NBA ROUNDUP : Spurs’ Turnaround at Record Proportions After Victory Over Jazz

Last season, only the Miami Heat, an expansion team, had a worse record than the San Antonio Spurs.

The man largely responsible for the turnaround has put the Spurs into position to come from last place to first in the Midwest Division.

Rookie sensation David Robinson, who may get some votes for most valuable player, had 30 points and 16 rebounds Wednesday night at San Antonio, and the Spurs became the most-improved NBA team ever by beating the Utah Jazz, 102-93.

The biggest victory in the history of the franchise enabled the Spurs, who have won 33 more games than they won last season, to move into a tie for first place with the Jazz.

If the Spurs, who won the season series from the Jazz, 3-2, can win at Denver Friday night and at home against Phoenix Sunday, they will win the division title.

The Spurs, 21-61 last season, are 54-26. In 1979-80, the year Larry Bird joined Boston, the Celtics improved by 32 games.

Karl Malone will have to take much of the blame if the Jazz, who have led the division almost all season, fail to win it.

In this game, the No. 2 scorer in the NBA had only five points in the first half, while the Spurs built a 45-33 lead. He finished with 20 points and nine rebounds, making only six of 19 shots from the field.

This performance is only part of the reason Malone must accept the blame. Last Saturday, with Utah leading by nine points over Houston at home, Malone was ejected with two technicals by veteran referee Earl Strom. The Jazz lost the game to give the Spurs the chance they needed.

“Our plan,” Spur Coach Larry Brown said, “was to stop Malone. It’s always tough to shut him down, but our big guys did it. Our guards came up with some big rebounds.”

Malone credited the Spurs for a big effort.

“They are super quick and they make it hard for us on offense,” Malone said. “When David roams the middle, he makes it very difficult.”

The Jazz plays Minnesota at home Friday and closes out the season Saturday night at Houston. Even if it wins both, Utah might not finish first.

The Jazz trailed by 16 at one time, but two three-pointers cut it to seven late in the game.

Philadelphia 124, Indiana 113--Hersey Hawkins scored 31 points at Philadelphia and the 76ers reduced their magic number in the Atlantic Division to one.

Either a 76er victory or a Boston defeat will clinch the first division title for the 76ers since 1983. The 76ers are at Detroit tonight, then finish at home Sunday against the Celtics. The Celtics are home to Chicago Friday night.

Charles Barkley had 17 points and nine rebounds for the 76ers, who, if they win the division, will probably play Indiana in the first round of the playoffs.

Boston 133, Orlando 112--With Bird in the hospital undergoing minor surgery, Kevin McHale took charge at Boston to keep the Celtics’ slim title hopes alive.

Bird, after scoring 23 points in 45 minutes at Chicago Tuesday night, went to the hospital after arriving home Wednesday and had an abscess removed from his buttocks. He may miss Friday’s game at Chicago.

McHale was 13 for 22 from the field and had 10 rebounds as the Celtics kept their faint hopes alive.

Portland 128, Phoenix 120--Clyde Drexler scored 32 points at Phoenix and Kevin Duckworth had five of his 17 in overtime as the Trail Blazers clinched the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

The victory was the 23rd on the road this season for Portland, bettering the previous franchise record set in 1977-78.

Cleveland 100, New Jersey 93--The Cavaliers’ magic number for qualifying for postseason play is one. With six players in double figures, the Cavaliers went in front early and stayed there.

The Cavaliers, with two games remaining, are a game ahead of Atlanta in the battle for the last playoff spot in the East.

Chris Dudley of the Nets went into the game with a string of 16 consecutive missed free throws. He extended it to 19 before making one. He was two for six after going one for 18 in his previous game.

The biggest cheer of the night came with 2:55 left, when he made his first free throw. Dudley also had a career-high 19 rebounds.

Charlotte 98, Miami 91--Kelly Tripucka scored 26 points at Miami and the Magic handed the Hornets their ninth consecutive defeat.

The loss kept Miami (17-63) tied with New Jersey and Orlando for the worst record in the NBA.