NBA ROUNDUP : Robinson Shows Value in Victory Over Bulls

Only two rookies have ever won most valuable player honors in the NBA--Wilt Chamberlain (1959-60) and Wes Unseld (1968-69)--and both were centers.

Is it possible there will be a third--also a center--this season?

It is still early, but David Robinson, the 7-1 star of the San Antonio Spurs, is certainly one of the candidates.

Everyone expected him to do well as a professional, but no one expected him to dominate so soon.

The former Naval Academy star, who had to fulfill his service obligation and missed two professional seasons, has made the Spurs the surprise team of this league.

Robinson scored 33 points, had 21 rebounds, six assists and five blocks Saturday night at San Antonio as the Spurs held off Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, 112-111.

Robinson had to be at his best because Jordan scored 44 points and led a late surge that almost foiled Larry Brown’s 500th victory as a pro coach. Brown had 229 wins in the old American Basketball Assn.

“David--what can you say?” asked Brown. “I have just been amazed watching him the last two nights. Against Charlotte last night, he completely stopped everybody. Tonight, he was tired after we flew in late last night, but he was the reason we were able to hold off Jordan.”

In the two games, Robinson had 60 points on 21-of-34 shooting, 31 rebounds and 16 blocked shots.

The Spurs, who can set a record for the biggest turnaround in NBA history by winning 23 of their last 38 games, are 20-1 at home, having won 19 in a row.

Detroit 105, Cleveland 100--The Cavaliers, at full strength at last, are about ready to begin their playoff drive.

Isiah Thomas and the champion Pistons made sure they didn’t launch it at Richfield, Ohio. Thomas, playing with five fouls, scored seven of his team’s last nine points to hold off the Cavaliers.

Brad Daugherty, who missed the first half of the season while recovering from foot surgery, started his first game and played 37 minutes.

Last season the Cavaliers were outstanding the first two-thirds of the regular schedule. This time they may be the team to watch in the last third.

New York 112, Indiana 98--Patrick Ewing is doing his best to pull the Knicks out of their slump.

He climaxed a remarkable performance by scoring seven consecutive points after the Pacers pulled even at 81-81. Ewing broke the tie with a hook with 7:40 left in the game, then followed with a layup and a three-point play.

Ewing had 38 points--17 in the last quarter--and 12 rebounds to lead the Knicks to their second victory in a row. They lead the Atlantic Division by half a game over idle Philadelphia.

Reggie Miller had 31 points for the Pacers, who fell to .500 after losing their fifth in a row.

Seattle 94, Washington 92--The SuperSonics, who had lost 12 in a row on the road, have scored back-to-back dramatic victories away from home since Quintin Dailey joined them.

Dailey’s free throw won at Indiana Friday night and he was prominent in this one, too. He came off the bench to score 13 points in 24 minutes. His drive with 1:58 left tied the game.

The Sonics won it when Derrick McKey sank a 17-footer at the buzzer.

Portland 131, Dallas 100--Buck Williams had 24 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Trail Blazers to their 11th win in a row at home.

Dallas, which had a seven-game winning snapped at Utah Friday, suffered another blow when forward Adrian Dantley broke his right fibula 34 seconds into the game.

The Blazers are 22-2 at home.

Phoenix 130, Houston 105--The Rockets’ road club showed up at Phoenix and the Suns won in a breeze. At home the Rockets are a match for anyone. On the road they are a match for no one.

The Suns, with Jeff Hornacek scoring 20 of his 30 points, were 31 for 42 (74%) as they built a 77-47 lead. The Rockets, 17-4 at home, are 4-20 on the road.