NBA ROUNDUP : Timberwolves Scare Trail Blazers

Rick Adelman was never more comfortable with 15 seconds left in a tie game.

The Portland Trail Blazer coach had a seat in the dressing room--courtesy of two early technical fouls. However, his comfort level was raised considerably by the fact that Terry Porter, a 90% free-throw shooter, was at the line.

“I always feel good when Terry gets the ball at the end of the game,” Adelman said after Porter’s two foul shots gave the Trail Blazers an 82-80 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday night at Minneapolis.

Porter, who was fouled by Randy Breuer as the 24-second clock was winding down, had no trouble making the shots as the Metrodome crowd of 22,672 howled.

That gave the Trail Blazers their sixth consecutive victory and 24th of the season, matching the Lakers for the most in the NBA. Portland trails the Lakers by one game in the Pacific Division.

The Blazers shot 34.1% and were outrebounded for only the 10th time this season, 56-53. But the Timberwolves, who have lost 15 of 17, shot even worse--31.6%.

Washington 100, Miami 89--Jeff Malone scored 22 of his season-high 39 points in the third quarter as the Bullets snapped a 13-game road losing streak. It was the Heat’s 12th consecutive loss.

Malone reached the 10,000-point milestone for his seven-year career with his eighth point.

In the third quarter, Malone hit nine of 12 from the floor and four free throws without a miss.

New Jersey 109, Charlotte 101--Purvis Short scored a season-high 29 points as the Nets won their third consecutive game and kept the Hornets winless on the road.

Trailing 36-34 midway through the second quarter at East Rutherford, N.J., the Nets took the lead for good with a 21-5 spurt.

Denver 141, Orlando 105--Fat Lever scored a season-high 27 points and added 14 rebounds as the Nuggets, coming off a 31-point loss to Utah, handed the Magic their 13th consecutive road loss.

Houston 90, Sacramento 87--Mitchell Wiggins returned to the Rockets’ lineup and scored nine of his 15 points in the last 5 1/2 minutes as Houston snapped a 10-game road losing streak.

Seattle 98, Dallas 87--Dale Ellis scored 11 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter as the Supersonics outscored the Mavericks, 39-23, in the period in the game at Seattle.

Ellis, a former Maverick, was ejected in the first half when the teams played in Dallas Monday night.