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NBA ROUNDUP : Cummings Scores 28 as Spurs Beat Jazz

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The schedule-maker didn’t do the Utah Jazz any favors having them play five road games in seven nights with the last game being against the San Antonio Spurs.

Terry Cummings scored 28 points for the Spurs Saturday night as they led from the opening seconds and breezed to a 115-98 victory. The Jazz dropped to third place in the Midwest Division, two games behind the Spurs. Denver slipped into second place, 1 1/2 behind.

The Jazz’s one-two punch of Karl Malone and John Stockton might just as well have gone from Charlotte to Salt Lake City instead of going to Texas.

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Malone, who had 52 points and 17 rebounds against the Hornets, played only 30 minutes and had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Stockton, who had 18 points and 14 assists Friday night, had six points and eight assists in 30 minutes.

The Spurs led, 36-18, after one quarter and were never in danger. David Robinson had another big game, making 11 of 13 shots, scoring 27 points and blocking six shots.

It was expected that the addition of 7-foot-1 center Robinson, the Spurs would become a power in the NBA. It just wasn’t supposed to happen so soon.

The Spurs are 17-6. A year ago, they were 7-16. But Robinson, the former Navy star, has blended in with newcomers Cummings and Maurice Cheeks to make the Spurs an instant success.

“You have to give the Spurs credit,” Utah Coach Jerry Sloan said. “They played great and had fresh bodies. Because it has been a tough trip, we weren’t really at our best.”

While admitting the Spurs are a factor, Malone said, “A lot can happen between now and the end of the season.”

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Philadelphia 131, Chicago 104--Michael Jordan, averaging 33.6 points, had only 16 at Philadelphia, but the Bulls stayed close until Charles Barkley took over in the third quarter.

Barkley, who had 33 points and 13 rebounds, scored seven points and had two steals in a 10-0 spurt that broke the game open.

The Bulls seemed down after winning a big Central Division game at Atlanta Friday night. On the other hand, the 76ers appeared to have received a lift from their comeback at Boston.

B.J. Armstrong led Chicago with 20 points.

New York 94, New Jersey 85--Trent Tucker, just turned 30, took charge in the fourth quarter to preserve the Knicks’ unbeaten record at home.

The Knicks, who trailed most of the game, went in front to stay when Tucker made the first of his two three-point shots at 6:35 of the last quarter.

It was the start of a 16-4 rally that sent the Nets to their 15th loss in their last 19 games.

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Detroit 106, Orlando 100--Despite a string of not too impressive victories, the Pistons keep insisting there is no problem.

They ran their record to 16-10 with a victory over the Magic at Auburn Hills, Mich. The Magic battled all the way although it was without injured regulars Terry Catledge and Jerry Reynolds.

Orlando trailed by six going into the fourth quarter, but William Bedford, playing in just his 15th game this season, and Vinnie Johnson hit jumpers to open the final quarter. Bedford, in 12 minutes, had eight points and five rebounds.

Reggie Theus had 30 points for the Magic, who held a six-point lead early in the second half.

Denver 135, Miami 104--A three-point basket can be demoralizing and when three are made in a hurry it can wipe out all hope.

Michael Adams sank three bombs and scored 14 points in a four-minute run in the third quarter at Miami that led the Nuggets to their third win in a row on the road.

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Adams triggered a 43-point quarter in which the Nuggets built a 107-72 lead.

Walter Davis came off the bench to score 20 points in 18 minutes for the Nuggets (17-9).

Milwaukee 94, Minnesota 90--Jack Sikma had only 15 points at Minneapolis, but it was his three-point basket late in the game that prevented the Timberwolves from ending their losing streak.

The Timberwolves had scored seven points in a row and with a little over four minutes left, trailed, 79-76. But Sikma, always one of the best outside shooters among big men, ened the rally with the three-pointer.

The Bucks, who have held six consecutive foes to 100 or fewer points, added two more baskets to sew up the Timberwolves’ eighth loss in a row.

Indiana 98, Seattle 95--The Pacers had to overcome fatigue and then the SuperSonics at Seattle.

Detlef Schrempf scored six of his team’s final nine points and made a key rebound as the Pacers ended a five-game Western swing with their second victory.

Seattle’s Dale Ellis missed a three-point shot for a tie with two seconds left.

Dallas 102, Sacramento 95--It’s the same old story for the Kings. They play well on the road but not good enough to win.

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Rolando Blackman scored 27 points, including a three-point play to put the Mavericks ahead to stay in the fourth quarter. It was the Kings’ eighth loss in a row.

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