NBA ROUNDUP : Warriors Defeat Short-handed Spurs, 112-106

A couple of broken hands are preventing the San Antonio Spurs from running away with the Midwest Division.

Terry Cummings and Rod Strickland have the broken hands and without the two starters, the Spurs are struggling. There is extra pressure on their big man, David Robinson.

The Spurs had the size advantage over Golden State Tuesday night at San Antonio, but the Warriors had the quickness and raced to a 112-106 victory.

It was the second loss in a row for the Spurs, who trailed most of the way. They held their two-game lead because Utah was upset by Minnesota.

As usual, the Warriors’ high scoring trio of Chris Mullin, Tim Hardaway and Mitch Richmond were primary factors.

Among them, they had 78 points. Mullin, who had 32, scored the Warriors’ first seven points in the last quarter to help fend off a rally. Hardaway and Richmond each had 23 points. The three took 69 of the Warriors’ 100 shots.

The Warriors double-teamed Robinson throughout, knowing the Spurs were without their playmaker (Strickland) and their sharpshooter (Cummings). Robinson had 21 points and 14 rebounds, but he was able to get off only 13 shots in 44 minutes.

Mullin, having another brilliant season, will play in his third consecutive All-Star game Sunday.

“I didn’t make it the first three seasons,” Mullin said, “but I’ve made it the last three. There’s a simple reason. I haven’t been drinking the last three years.”

Hardaway is also in the All-Star game. Only Richmond failed to make it.

Detroit 107, Philadelphia 98--With Isiah Thomas out for the rest of the regular season, at least, the Pistons need Mark Aguirre and Vinnie Johnson to take up the slack.

In this game at Auburn Hills, Mich., the Pistons trailed much of the game, but Johnson and Aguirre came through in the clutch.

Each had 21 points, Johnson getting 15 of his in the second half. The Pistons won it in the last quarter, outscoring the 76ers, 25-15.

Charles Barkley, a doubtful starter because of a sprained ankle, scored 16 points in the first half, but only seven in the second half when he appeared to be limping.

The Pistons are 6-1 without Thomas.

Phoenix 126, Denver 103--Having won six in a row, there was no way the Nuggets could sneak up on the Suns at Phoenix.

Kevin Johnson got the Suns’ offense going early, they built a 68-54 halftime lead and coasted to the victory that ended the streak.

Johnson had 17 points and 10 assists in the first half.

Minnesota 94, Utah 93--Sam Mitchell sank a 15-foot jumper with 11 seconds left at Minneapolis and the Timberwolves made it two in a row over winning teams.

Mitchell, who has 87 points in the last three games, had 37 Sunday in an upset over Philadelphia.

Orlando 118, New York 116--This was supposed to be a revenge game at Orlando for the Knicks, who were shocked by the Magic in December at New York.

Instead, Scott Skiles led a late 16-6 spurt that brought the Magic from behind. The expansion team has a 4-2 edge on the Knicks.

Atlanta 118, Cleveland 114--Dominique Wilkins scored 14 of his 40 points in the last eight minutes and had 13 rebounds at Atlanta to help end the Hawks’ six-game losing streak.

Dallas 114, Indiana 109--Derek Harper scored 24 points and had a key steal and an offensive rebound for the Mavericks in the last 30 seconds at Dallas.