NBA ROUNDUP : Stockton, Malone Lead Jazz Over Spurs

The Utah Jazz’s dominance on their home court allows them to make a race of it in the Midwest Division.

After spotting the San Antonio Spurs an early lead, the Jazz, behind Karl Malone and John Stockton, stormed back to rout them, 124-102, Tuesday night at Salt Lake City.

Malone had 32 points and Stockton had 20 points and a career-high 28 assists. Mark Eaton, who had missed two games because of the flu, made life miserable for the Spurs’ star, David Robinson.

Robinson, who had 22 points, 18 rebounds and 11 blocks the last time the teams met, wasn’t much of a factor until after the Jazz built a big lead.

Robinson finished with 26 points, but had only nine rebounds and blocked only three shots.

The victory improved Utah’s record at home to 16-3 and put the Jazz only one game behind San Antonio. Utah has lost three more games than the Spurs.

On the road, Utah is 9-9. Last Saturday night the Jazz were no match for the Spurs in San Antonio, losing by 20 points.

Karl Malone, who had a poor night in San Antonio, making only six of 23 shots, was 14 for 23 and also had 18 rebounds Tuesday.

“I wasn’t really aware I had so many assists,” Stockton said. “I didn’t learn about it until I was removed in the closing minutes.

“This was a big win for us, especially after the lambasting we took in San Antonio.

“We need the big fellow (Eaton). He intimidates people going to the basket, and we can play tougher defense.”

Portland 132, Minnesota 117--The Timberwolves’ new-found offense sent them over the 100-point mark for the eighth consecutive game, but the attack backfired at Minneapolis.

Clyde Drexler, coming off a poor effort Sunday night in New Jersey, led the Trail Blazers to the highest point total ever scored against the Timberwolves.

Drexler, who scored 13 of his 32 points in the first quarter, had a triple-double, getting 11 assists and 10 rebounds. In his previous game, he had only 12 points and was ejected with two technical fouls after making only five of 18 shots.

It might have been a costly victory for the leaders of the West, who improved to 32-7. Buck Williams, their power forward, injured his groin before the game was three minutes old and did not return.

The Trail Blazers were 3-2 on their trip.

Atlanta 117, Indiana 106--Dominique Wilkins always has been a devastating force on offense. But the Hawks didn’t really get going this year until their acrobatic forward started dominating on defense, too.

Atlanta, which won only 12 of its first 25 games, won for the ninth time in the last 11 games when Wilkins contributed 26 points and 12 rebounds at Indianapolis.

In the past 11 games, Wilkins has averaged 30 points and 11 rebounds. In addition, he has been coming up with key steals and some blocked shots.

The Hawks fell behind, 90-89, with 10 minutes left, but Wilkins and Glenn Rivers paced a 16-2 run that clinched the victory.

“We won it with defense,” Wilkins said. “We got the ball out quickly off the boards and that made the baskets easier.”

Phoenix 127, Washington 97--Since obtaining Xavier McDaniel, the Suns have played some of the best basketball in the league.

McDaniel was at his best in this romp at Phoenix. The big forward made all 12 shots he took to help the Suns to their fifth victory in a row.

Kevin Johnson had 20 points and 10 assists as the Suns built a 35-19 lead in the first quarter and coasted the rest of the way.

In the first quarter, Johnson had 11 points and three steals.

The Bullets’ Bernard King, the league’s leading scorer, had 26 points.

Golden State 112, New Jersey 111--The Nets’ 11th consecutive defeat was an especially bitterone.

With 2:34 left in regulation at East Rutherford, N.J., the Nets led, 102-91. However, they did not score again until overtime. Golden State completed an 11-0 run on Mitch Richmond’s layup with 31 seconds remaining.

In overtime the Nets led, 111-110, with 40 seconds left. Tim Hardaway, who scored 35 points, hit a jump shot with 34 seconds left to give the Warriors the final lead.

New Jersey had three chances to win before the final buzzer. Reggie Theus shot an airball, Alton Lister blocked rookie Derrick Coleman’s shot and, at the buzzer, Coleman’s shot rimmed out.

Coach Don Nelson of the Warriors was not happy with his team. “We were very lucky,” he said. “Fate was on our side.”

Seattle 146, Denver 99--The SuperSonics didn’t just win easily at Seattle, they became the first team to hold the Nuggets under 100 points this season.

Dana Barros and Dale Ellis each had 22 points for the SuperSonics, who jumped in front early and led, 76-42, at halftime. Their biggest lead was 54 points in the fourth quarter.

It was the Sonics’ highest point total of the season. Their previous high had been 135.

Miami 104, Orlando 102--Former Laker Billy Thompson scored a season-high 18 points at Miami and the Heat beat Florida rival Orlando for the fourth time in a row.

The Magic, fighting back from an 11-point deficit, closed to within two points and had a chance to tie. But, with three seconds left, Otis Smith missed a running one-hander.

The Magic played without guard Scott Skiles, who has a bruised right elbow.