NBA ROUNDUP : Pistons Don’t Let Up on Magic, 140-109

The Detroit Pistons, who used an impressive defense to carry them to the NBA championship last spring, can also turn on the offense on occasion.

Joe Dumars scored 22 points and five teammates were in double figures Wednesday night at Auburn Hills, Mich., as the Pistons routed the expansion Orlando Magic, 140-109.

The Pistons, who built a big early lead and coasted to their 13th victory in a row, have not lost since the Lakers beat them Jan. 21.

The Pistons, who began to emphasize defense a few seasons ago, again have the best defensive record. They have yielded an average of 97.5 points per game.

In this game, though, it was the offense that prevailed. The Pistons scored 70 points in each half. At halftime they led by 17 and the Magic never made a game of it.

Dumars, the most valuable player in the NBA Finals last season, scored the 5,000th point of his career late in the third quarter. The basket gave the Pistons an 87-63 lead. The crowd of 21,454 gave the guard a standing ovation.

“That’s not a real big number,” Dumars said, “but it’s nice to be appreciated. A few years ago I didn’t play well enough to be appreciated.”

Cleveland 121, Portland 109--The Cavaliers have struggled all season because of a wave of serious injuries. So they were in no mood to sympathize with the Trail Blazers, who played this game in Richfield, Ohio, without injured star Clyde Drexler.

The Cavaliers, slowly rounding into playoff form, made 61% from the field in the first half to build a 64-48 lead, and the Trail Blazers never were able to get back in the game.

Rookie Chucky Brown and Mark Price led the Cavaliers with 24 points each. Price sank three three-point shots. Monday night, Price missed all seven of his attempts from long range to end his streak of games in which he made a three-pointer at 34.

The Trail Blazers had won three in a row on the road. They are hoping that Drexler, their leading scorer who has a sprained ankle, will play Friday night at Chicago.

Indiana 123, Atlanta 96--When they missed their first seven shots at Indianapolis, the Hawks had a pretty good idea their slump was not over.

The game was five minutes old before they made their first field goal and the Hawks, in danger of blowing a playoff spot, lost for the 13th time in the last 15 games.

The Hawks’ star, Dominique Wilkins, never did find the range. He was two for 14 and had only four points in 28 minutes.

The hot Pacers made 15 of their first 19 shots to build a big early lead, with Reggie Miller getting seven points in the first three minutes. Indiana went on to earn its 28th win, matching its total for all of last season. They have 29 games left.

Utah 116, Boston 103--Before losing his cool in the third quarter and being ejected at Salt Lake City, Karl Malone had already scored 27 points and helped the Jazz put away the weary Celtics.

It was the 17th win in a row at home for the Jazz and the Celtics’ fourth loss in a row on their tough trip West. Referee Jack Madden charged Malone with two technicals only 16 seconds after Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan was ejected with five minutes left in the third quarter. The Jazz led at the time, 77-60.

Thurl Bailey also scored 27 points for Utah, and John Stockton had 17 points and 17 assists for the Jazz, who are 25-3 at home, with their last defeat Dec. 11 against Cleveland.

Kevin McHale, who was only two for 11 in a loss Tuesday night at Phoenix, led the Celtics with 34 points. He was 10 for 17 from the field.

Philadelphia 96, Golden State 95--Hersey Hawkins sank a three-point shot to break a 93-93 tie with a little more than a minute left at Oakland and the 76ers held on to win.

A jumper by Terry Teagle with 34 seconds left brought the Warriors to within a point, but they never got the ball again. The 76ers ran the clock down, and, after Hawkins missed, Mike Gminski pulled down the rebound and the 76ers ran out the clock.

New Jersey 95, Minnesota 93--The Nets’ 14-game losing streak came to a halt, but just barely, at East Rutherford, N.J.

The Nets built a 75-57 lead late in the third period, then blew it and trailed, 93-92, with six seconds to play. Lester Conner took the inbounds pass, dribbled down the court and sank a 10-foot jumper at the buzzer. He was fouled on the play and his free throw made it a two-point victory. The Timberwolves had won four in a row.

Seattle 92, Miami 85--Nate McMillan sank a three-point field goal with 1:25 left at Miami to thwart a rally by the Heat and lift the SuperSonics to the victory.

The Heat trailed, 75-62, after three quarters, then scored the first nine points of the last quarter, but didn’t have enough left.