NBA ROUNDUP : Dumars Rolls Seven, Gives Pistons a Win

Joe Dumars scored seven of his 25 points in the final 27 seconds, including a tiebreaking three-point play, as the Detroit Pistons beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 98-94, Friday night at Richfield, Ohio, for their fifth consecutive victory.

The loss was Cleveland’s sixth in a row and 12th in 13 games.

The Cavaliers, who received 21 points each from Larry Nance and Brad Daugherty, led for most of the second and third quarters after Henry James, playing in his second NBA game since signing a 10-day contract, scored 13 points in the second quarter.

But Mark Aguirre, who scored all of his 26 points in the second half, gave the Pistons their first lead of the half, 82-81, on a 15-foot jump shot with 5:35 remaining.

“It was the first time in a while that I was needed,” Aguirre said. “You can get pretty comfortable when you know you’re going to get the ball. I thought I had an advantage offensively against the people that were guarding me.”

With 42 seconds left and the score tied, 91-91, Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer knocked the ball away from Daugherty, and Dumars capitalized by sinking a 12-foot jumper with 27 seconds to play. He was fouled on the play and made the free throw for a 94-91 lead.

Boston 132, Phoenix 103--The Celtics scored 35 points in the third quarter as they went on to win their 15th in a row at Boston.

Kevin McHale scored 23 points, Larry Bird and Brian Shaw each had 21, and Robert Parish and Lewis 18 apiece as the Celtics extended their record to 25-5, 16-1 in Boston Garden.

Jeff Hornacek scored 22 points for Phoenix.

Utah 102, Philadelphia 99--Jeff Malone scored 31 points and Charles Barkley of the 76ers missed four free throws in the final minute as the Jazz held on at Utah.

Barkley, who scored 35 points, was at the line with 53 seconds remaining and Utah ahead, 96-95, but he missed both shots. Karl Malone, who scored 24 points, put the Jazz ahead by three with a 15-foot jumper.

Philadelphia’s Ron Anderson missed a three-point shot and Jeff Malone sank two free throws to give Utah a 100-95 lead with 11 seconds left. Barkley missed two more free throws with nine seconds left, ending Philadelphia’s hopes. The 76ers have lost four in a row, all on the road.

San Antonio 93, New Jersey 89--David Robinson had 26 points and 21 rebounds, and keyed an 11-0 fourth-quarter run with three blocked shots and a dunk, leading the Spurs at New Jersey.

The victory was the Spurs’ ninth in 11 games. They have yet to lose consecutive games this season. New Jersey has lost five in a row.

Washington 111, Minnesota 100--Ledell Eackles scored 12 of his season-high 22 points in the fourth quarter as the Bullets broke open a close game at Minneapolis.

Eackles, who missed the entire exhibition season and the first week of the regular season before reporting out of shape, made eight of 11 shots in helping the Bullets win their third game in a row.

Bernard King had 26 points and Harvey Grant 25 for Washington.

Tyrone Corbin scored 26 points for the Timberwolves.

Atlanta 111, Indiana 96--Dominique Wilkins scored 36 points and John Battle had 10 of his 16 in the fourth quarter at Atlanta as the Hawks won their fifth in a row.

The Hawks, who have won eight in a row at home, led, 82-79, going to the final quarter before a free throw by Battle and Sidney Moncrief’s two baskets gave them an 87-79 lead.

Seattle 112, Miami 86--Sedale Threatt scored 30 points and the SuperSonics broke away in the final quarter to beat the Heat at Seattle.

The Sonics led, 76-75, after three quarters but went on a 21-3 run in the first 6:24 of the fourth quarter.

Glen Rice scored 20 for Miami.