NBA ROUNDUP : New Twist: Malone to Skip All-Star Game Again

Utah forward Karl Malone, after twisting his ankle with five minutes left in the Jazz’ 94-74 victory over the Charlotte Hornets Thursday night, said he would not play in the All-Star game Sunday at Miami.

Malone, who earlier threatened to boycott the game because the Lakers’ A. C. Green was selected to start over him, remained in the game at Charlotte long after victory was clinched.

“I can’t go down there with a sprained ankle,” said Malone, who went to a hospital for X-rays 30 minutes after the game. “I’m not going down there and stand around the whole time. That doesn’t make sense.”

Utah trainer Don Sparks said he would put a soft cast on the ankle and examine it again today.

Malone did not have a good game against the Hornets, who lost their ninth in a row and 16th in their last 17. Malone played 36 minutes and had only 15 points, going six of 18 from the field.

The Jazz struggled early, but Thurl Bailey came off the bench to score 22 points.

Detroit 104, Milwaukee 101-- With Isiah Thomas and Mark Aguirre leading a fourth-quarter surge at Milwaukee, the Pistons stretched their winning streak to nine games.

Thomas had 10 of his 23 points in the last 12 minutes, and Aguirre had 11 of his 15 in the same span.

Indiana 105, San Antonio 100--The Pacers, who struggled for the past month after a great start, ended the Spurs’ 20-game home winning streak.

The shooting of Chuck Person and Reggie Miller enabled the Pacers to beat the Spurs for the eighth time in a row.

Person had 32 points on 13-of-19 shooting, and Miller had 28.

David Robinson had 21 points and eight rebounds for the Spurs, who are 22-2 at home.

Denver 123, Chicago 98--The Nuggets, playing at home, held Michael Jordan to 15 points, his lowest total of the season. Alex English, who engaged in a shouting match with Coach Doug Moe during an overtime loss to Indiana Tuesday night, led the Nuggets with 24 points.

Jordan had only one basket in the second half and was only five of 18 from the field.

Atlanta 110, Houston 108--Moses Malone sank a 16-foot jump shot with two seconds left at Houston to end the Hawks’ six-game losing streak.

Malone had 21 points and 14 rebounds. Akeem Olajuwon had 27 points and 15 rebounds for Houston.

Orlando 101, Philadelphia 99--Reggie Theus made an 18-foot jump shot with one second left to lead the Magic at Orlando.

The Magic is 4-1 in games it has held opponents to less than 100 points.

Cleveland 106, Miami 82--The Heat, playing without flu-stricken center Rony Seikaly, was no match for the Cavaliers at Richfield, Ohio.

Mark Price scored 18 points for Cleveland.

New York 122, Golden State 118--Mitch Richmond led a furious Warriors’ rally that cut a 20-point deficit to four points with three minutes left, but they couldn’t get any closer to the Knicks at New York.

Richmond had 27 points.

Dallas 90, Minnesota 77--Rolando Blackman scored 21 points at Dallas and the Mavericks pulled away in the second half.