NBA ROUNDUP : Celtics’ 18-Game Home Win Streak Ends

Boston, playing without injured Larry Bird for the fifth consecutive game, had its 18-game home winning streak ended by Golden State, 110-105 Wednesday night.

Tim Hardaway led the Warriors with a career-high 37 points, but it was an inbounds violation by the Celtics’ Kevin Gamble that put the game away for the Warriors.

Tyrone Hill’s free throw gave Golden State a 107-105 lead with 32 seconds left. After a Boston timeout, the Celtics lost the ball with 16.7 seconds remaining when Gamble couldn’t inbound it within five seconds.

Boston was forced to foul, and Rod Higgins hit one free throw with 16 seconds remaining and Mullin made two with 6.9 seconds to go.

The Warriors’ third consecutive road victory left Boston at 29-7, dropping the Celtics behind Portland (32-7) for the NBA’s best record.

Chicago 99, Orlando 88--The Bulls held the Magic to one basket in the first seven minutes of the final period and extended their winning streak to seven games.

Michael Jordan, who struggled from the field, still scored 29 points and fueled a 9-0 run that helped the Bulls beat the Magic at Orlando Arena for the first time.

Nick Anderson led the Magic with 25 points, but Jordan’s defense on the second-year pro was a key down the stretch.

Milwaukee 126, Indiana 119--Jay Humphries sored 33 points and Ricky Pierce 31 as the Bucks ended a four-game losing streak with their 19th victory in 20 home games this season.

Reggie Miller led the Pacers, now 2-17 on the road, with 26 points.

Danny Schayes added 18 points and Jeff Grayer a season-high 16 for the Bucks.

Humphries had 22 first-half points and Pierce 15 as the Bucks took a 64-53 lead.

San Antonio 100, Dallas 94--David Robinson scored 30 points and Rod Strickland 21 as the surging Spurs rallied at San Antonio to win for the 16th time in their past 20 games.

The Mavericks, led by Derek Harper, with 27 points, scored only nine points in the fourth quarter.

Cleveland 108, Miami 94--Brad Daugherty scored 22 points at Richfield, Ohio, as the Cavaliers ended an 11-game losing streak.

The Heat, losing for the sixth time in eight games, is without center Rony Seikaly, out since late December because of a sprained knee. His replacement, rookie Alec Kessler, was unable to handle Daugherty, who scored 13 points to help the Cavs take a 58-39 halftime lead.

Minnesota 93, New York Knicks 89--Sam Mitchell scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter as the expansion Timberwolves won for the third time in a row on the road.

Minnesota, which had never before won consecutive road games until they beat Orlando and Miami last week, handed the Knicks their 12th loss in 20 home games, matching their number of defeats at Madison Square Garden last season.

Denver 111, Charlotte 104--Walter Davis made 13 of 13 free throws, including eight in the final 1:18, and finished with 31 points at Denver in a battle of two teams going backwards.

It was only the third victory for the Nuggets in 17 games. The Hornets lost their third consecutive game and 17th in 20.