NBA Roundup : Warriors Rock Jazz Again in Utah, 99-91

The Golden State Warriors took away Utah’s room, and the Jazz’s hope.

Rod Higgins hit two straight three-point goals late in the fourth quarter to spark a 14-0 run and lead the Warriors to a 99-91 victory over the Jazz Saturday night at Salt Lake City.

It was the defense that was decisive for Golden State, which took a two games to none lead in the best-of-five Western Conference playoff series.

The teams meet again Tuesday night in Oakland, where the Jazz has lost twice this season. If necessary, a fourth game will be played Thursday night in Oakland, and Game 5 would be played in Utah Saturday night.

While the Jazz was feeling the squeeze, Higgins was getting open for his key baskets.

The Warriors trailed, 60-49, after Utah’s Thurl Bailey scored with 8:18 left in the third quarter. But the Warriors took charge from there. Golden State outscored Utah, 22-14, the remainder of the third quarter and held the Jazz to just seven field goals in the final quarter.

Mark Eaton gave the Jazz its last lead, 80-79, with a hook shot with 5:21 left, but Higgins gave the Warriors the lead for good with his three-point goals.

Terry Teagle added three baskets and two free throws to put the Warriors ahead, 93-80, in the final two minutes.

The Jazz, which lost the opener, 123-119, appeared to solve the Warriors’ defense early in the game.

Malone, held scoreless by the Warriors in the first quarter of the first game, scored 14 in the first quarter and had 24 at halftime before finishing with 37. Larry Smith, who has shadowed Malone in the first two games, picked up his third foul early in the second quarter and was used sparingly the rest of the half.

Malone, who also had 22 rebounds, scored two free throws and two field goals during a 7-0 Jazz run in the second period, giving Utah a 43-40 lead with 3:34 left in the opening half.

However, Malone was held scoreless in the fourth quarter and the Jazz went without a point for nearly four minutes in the final quarter.

Milwaukee 108, Atlanta 98--Terry Cummings scored 22 points and reserve Ricky Pierce added 20 to help the Bucks snap an eight-game losing streak against the Hawks and even their best-of-five Eastern Conference first-round playoff series, 1-1.

The Bucks, who had lost nine games in a row at Atlanta, gained the home-court advantage in the series, with the next two games in Milwaukee on Tuesday and Friday nights.

The Bucks, who made 82% of their free throws during the regular season, made 28 of 29 after making just 20 of 29 when the Hawks won the series opener, 100-92, Thursday night.

Dominique Wilkins led the Hawks with 32 points, including 15 in the third period.

New York 107, Philadelphia 106--Trent Tucker’s three-point basket with 10 seconds remaining capped an 11-0 surge that erased a 10-point deficit in the final two minutes at New York, giving the Knicks a 2-0 lead over the 76ers in the best-of-five Eastern Conference series.

Game 3 will be played in Philadelphia on Tuesday, with a fourth game, if necessary, on Thursday, also at Philadelphia.

The 76ers, with Charles Barkley and Ron Anderson each scoring nine points in the fourth quarter, had a 106-96 lead on Barkley’s two free throws with 2:12 remaining. Barkley finished with 30 points and Anderson added 26.

Mark Jackson, held to six points until then, made a three-point basket, a free throw and a jumper to make it 106-102 with 59 seconds left.

Gerald Wilkins then stole the ball and hit a baseline jumper with 50 seconds remaining, cutting the lead to two. The Knicks then prevented Philadelphia guard Maurice Cheeks from crossing midcourt, forcing a 10-second violation.

The Knicks kept possession until Jackson passed to Tucker for the game-winning basket, his only points of the game.