NBA ROUNDUP : Malone, Utah Cut Down Nets

Karl Malone scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds Monday night as the Utah Jazz held on to edge the New Jersey Nets, 100-98, at East Rutherford, N.J.

The Jazz, who made 28 turnovers, appeared to have a safe lead at 98-92 after Mark Eaton stuffed in a rebound with 51 seconds left.

But Chris Morris made a three-point shot with 40 seconds left and, after a tip-in by Eaton, Morris made two free throws with 15 seconds left, pulling New Jersey to within 100-97.

The Nets used a full-court press and forced Jeff Malone into a backcourt violation, giving New Jersey the ball at midcourt with 2.2 seconds remaining. After a timeout, the Nets attempted to set up Mookie Blaylock for a potential game-tying three-point shot.

As the ball was inbounded, Blaylock was wrapped up by John Stockton and went to the line for two free throws. He made the first and intentionally missed the second.

Reggie Theus of New Jersey got his right hand on the rebound and tipped it toward the basket, but the ball bounced off the back rim as the buzzer sounded.

Stockton had 17 points and 14 assists and Jeff Malone also scored 17 points for the Jazz, who have won seven of eight.

Morris scored 19 points for the Nets, who have lost three in a row. Theus, Derrick Gervin and Jack Haley scored 14 points each.

Utah, which led, 50-42, at halftime, scored eight consecutive points in the third quarter to open a 64-52 lead.

Net Coach Bill Fitch pulled his starting unit and the five substitutes pulled off a 14-2 run. Chris Dudley, the league’s worst free-throw shooter, scored seven of those points, including five three throws without a miss. The rally gave the Nets a 79-76 lead.

Atlanta 109, Cleveland 98--Dominique Wilkins made seven consecutive shots and scored 15 of his 32 points during the third quarter as the Hawks downed the slumping Cavaliers at Richfield, Ohio.

John Battle added 24 points as the Hawks won their fifth consecutive game while sending the Cavaliers to their sixth straight loss.

Cleveland is 1-7 since losing guard Mark Price to a knee injury in a Nov. 30 game at Atlanta.

Atlanta had a 57-42 lead early in the third quarter, but the Cavaliers rallied behind Brad Daugherty to get within seven early in the fourth quarter before the Hawks scored eight consecutive points.

Daugherty had 33 points and a career-high 18 rebounds, and Larry Nance added 18 points.

Jon Koncak added 16 points and 13 rebounds for Atlanta.