NBA Roundup : Streak Stops Here, and the Bucks Do It

The Cleveland Cavaliers were starting to feel invincible at home. But a nine-point fourth-quarter put an end to that.

“We missed some easy shots, and they played good defense to force some tough shots,” Larry Nance said after the Milwaukee Bucks overcame a 10-point deficit to beat the Cavaliers, 103-98, and end Cleveland’s 22-game home court winning streak at Richfield, Ohio.

“They had their hands in the air and stole some passes.”

Cleveland (43-14) led, 89-79, after three quarters, but made just two of 16 shots in the final period.

The nine points tied an NBA season low, but missed the Cavaliers’ record low for a quarter by three.

Terry Cummings led the Bucks with 26 points, eight of them in the fourth quarter.

“We were very aggressive defensively and we didn’t allow them as many opportunities in the low post as we did in the first half,” Cummings said.

The Cavaliers missed their first eight floor shots in the fourth quarter during a 12-2 Milwaukee run that tied it, 91-91.

The Bucks (36-19) gained their first lead of the game when Ricky Pierce hit a fast-break layup after a bad pass by Cleveland’s Brad Daugherty, putting Milwaukee ahead, 97-96, with 2:20 left.

Nance made an 18-footer to put Cleveland back up 98-97, but a 10-foot baseline jumper by Pierce gave Milwaukee the lead for good with 1:30 left.

An 18-foot basket by Rickey Green and free throws by Paul Pressey and Sidney Moncrief sealed it for the Bucks, who have won 14 of their last 20.

Daugherty led Cleveland with 30 points and Nance had 27.

Utah 85, Atlanta 83--Mark Eaton was a 7-foot-4 obstacle that was too big for the Hawks at Atlanta, blocking four shots, altering several others and grabbing 23 rebounds. He also scored 15 points.

Karl Malone’s two free throws with 43 seconds left broke an 83-83 tie. John Stockton and Bobby Hansen had 20 points each for Utah.

Moses Malone had 22 points and 15 rebounds for Atlanta, while Dominique Wilkins added 19 points.

Washington 114, Charlotte 101--Jeff Malone scored 34 points and Bernard King added 27 as the Bullets pulled away with a 14-1 surge in the final quarter to beat the Hornets at Landover, Md.

Mark Alarie broke an 88-88 tie with a layup to start the Bullets’ decisive streak.

Rex Chapman had 22 points for Charlotte and Kurt Rambis added 21.

Detroit 109, Miami 100--Isiah Thomas and Vinnie Johnson scored 22 points each as the Pistons downed the Heat at Miami.

Grant Long had 26 points for Miami.

Indiana 121, Portland 118--Detlef Schrempf scored nine points in overtime, including two free throws with 20 seconds left, and Reggie Miller scored 29 points as the Pacers defeated the Trail Blazers in Portland.

It was the Pacers’ third victory in a four-game West Coast road trip.

Sacramento 110, Golden State 96--Kenny Smith scored 28 points as the Kings defeated the Warriors in Sacramento. Harold Pressley added 21 points, Wayman Tisdale 19 and Danny Ainge 18, including three three-point baskets, for the Kings.