NBA ROUNDUP : Cavaliers Remind Pistons of Injured Dumars’ Value

It took quite a while for many to realize how good a basketball player Joe Dumars is. The Detroit Pistons’ 6-foot-3 guard received overdue recognition when he was voted the most valuable player when the Pistons won their first NBA championship last year.

His value became even more apparent when he suffered a broken hand at San Antonio March 24.

Until he was hurt, the Pistons had the best record in the league. Now they are fighting to win the Central Division.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, taking advantage of the absence of Dumars, strengthened their playoff hopes by outlasting the Pistons, 100-97, Sunday at Richfield, Ohio.

Although they missed five late free throws and seemed confused when the Pistons applied pressure in the closing minutes, the Cavaliers hung on to move a full game ahead of Atlanta in the battle for the last playoff spot in the East.

The winner will probably play Detroit in the first round, although the Pistons are only 2 1/2 games ahead of surging Chicago.

Detroit, after watching the other Cavaliers have problems at the free-throw line, made the mistake of fouling Mark Price twice in the last minute. He made four free throws to win it.

The Pistons blew a lead at San Antonio after Dumars was hurt and lost. They are 3-4 since his injury.

“We miss Joe,” James Edwards said. “We’re struggling offensively without our leading scorer.”

Dumars also keys the tough defense, taking on the opponent’ best offensive guard. He would have gone up against Price, who had 17 assists and 18 points.

Price got passes inside to Hot Rod Williams, who had a career-best 33 points. Williams started in place of Larry Nance, who has a severely sprained ankle.

“If they had beaten us today and we had made the playoffs, we would not have had much hope,” Price said. “Now, we know we can beat the Pistons and maybe make it interesting in the playoffs.”

Charlotte 110, Golden State 109--Kelly Tripucka made only one of two free throws, but with only 0.7 of a second left at Charlotte, it was enough to break the tie and give the Hornets their first three-game winning streak.

The Hornets, 8-5 in their last 13 games, dealt a blow to the Golden State playoff hopes. The Warriors, who had won three in a row on the trip, fell 2 1/2 games behind Seattle, currently eighth in the West.

The Warriors led by 12 points in the third quarter.

Houston 146, Orlando 123--The Rockets burned the NBA’s worst defense for 78 points in the first half at Orlando.

Sleepy Floyd had 32 points and the Rockets moved to within one game of Seattle and the last playoff spot in the West.

Indiana 99, New York 97--The Pacers blew an eight-point lead in the last five minutes at Indianapolis, but held on to win on Chuck Person’s 17-foot jump shot with 1.5 seconds remaining.

While holding the seventh playoff spot in the East, the Pacers probably knocked the Knicks out of any chance to finish second in the East.

Despite another strong effort by Patrick Ewing (30 points, 12 rebounds, four blocked shots), the Knicks, with seven games left, trail Boston by three games.

New Jersey 102, Miami 101--Sam Bowie scored 12 of his 15 points, including the go-ahead basket, in the fourth quarter at East Rutherford, N.J., and the Nets climbed out of last place in the Atlantic Division.

Portland 112, San Antonio 105--Clyde Drexler had 26 rebounds at Portland and the Trail Blazers overcame 36 points by David Robinson.

The loss dropped the Spurs three games behind Utah in the Midwest Division with seven games to play.