NBA Roundup : Mavericks Win Again to Stay Alive

The Dallas Mavericks die hard.

They have been within a loss or a Portland victory of missing the playoffs for several days. They can’t do anything about what the Trail Blazers do, so they just keep winning.

Roy Tarpley played another spectaular game, scoring 33 points and 17 rebounds at Dallas to lead the Mavericks to a 91-89 victory over the Utah Jazz. With Portland losing to the Lakers, the Mavericks are not out of it.

Although the Jazz was without its best player, Karl Malone, who sat out the game with a sprained ankle, it was a big victory for Dallas.

The Mavericks play at Denver Sunday, while the Trail Blazers, who have lost five in a row while needing just one win to clinch the last playoff spot in the West, are at home against improved Sacrmento.

If the Mavericks had had Tarpley back just a bit earlier, they might not have had to go to the last night of the season to try to make the playoffs. A drug problem caused Tarpley to miss half the season.

“I felt like Mike Tyson out there tonight,” Tarpley said. “Everything was clicking for me. My teammates were getting the ball to me.”

Indiana 120, Boston 110--It doesn’t appear that anyone wants to win the final playoff spot in the East and the series against Detroit that goes with it.

The Celtics, who are used to having the Atlantic Division well under control, are going down to the final game of the season withou having clinched a playoff spot. The loss of Larry Bird for almost the entire season may yet prove to be devastating.

For the Celtics to clinch the right to play the Pistons in the best-of-five opening series, they need to beat Charlotte at home Sunday or have Washington lose at Philadelphia.

Rookie Rik Smits sank 11 of 15 shots and scored 23 points at Indianapolis to lead the Pacers to victory. The Pacers went on a 17-4 spurt at the start of the fourth quarter to break it open.

Although Detlef Schrempf made only 4 of 12 shots and scored just 11 points, the Pacers are 15-12 since obtaining their sixth man from Dallas.

Chicago 115, Washington 113--It was a gallant effort by the Bullets, but defeating the Bulls at Chicago after beating them at home the night before was just too much for them.

Scottie Pippen’s three-point shot with 1:41 left broke a 108-108 tie, and Michael Jordan made two free throws with 16 seconds left to clinch it.

Jordan, still bothered by an ankle injury, had 34 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists.

Detroit 100, Philadelphia 91--Mark Aguirre and Isiah Thomas scored six points apiece in a 14-4 spurt that enabled the Pistons to pull away to their 20th consecutive victory at home.

The Pistons’ fourth consecutive win gave them a 62-19 record, easily best in the league, and they are 36-4 at home with one game to go.

Aguirre, who has played consistently since being acquired from Dallas, led the Pistons with 22 points.

Milwaukee 117, Charlotte 110--Ricky Pierce scored 21 points, including 10 straight in the fourth quarter at Charlotte, N.C., as the Bucks ruined the Hornets’ season finale at home.

Pierce sank five consecutive shots to help the Bucks stretch their lead to 86-69, their biggest of the game, after the Hornets had battled to make it close.

Atlanta 92, Cleveland 89--A basket by Moses Malone and two clutch free throws by both Cliff Levingston and Reggie Theus in the last two minutes at Atlanta saved the Hawks.

Atlanta, which has won nine games in a row, trailed by one point before the three veterans came through in the clutch.

Denver 139, Golden State 121--Have the speedy little Warriors finally come down to earth?

They aren’t playing well. With Mitch Richmond sitting it out at Oakland with a strained lower back, the Warriors lost their fifth game in a row and their third straight at home.

The Nuggets, who were without Michael Adams, ended a seven-game road losing streak.

Alex English scored 30 points, while Fat Lever had a triple double, including a career-high 23 assists. He also had 15 points and 13 rebounds.