NBA ROUNDUP : Kevin Johnson Rallies Suns Past Hawks, 128-116

The Phoenix Suns had lost only six home games all season, but Saturday they were in danger of losing at home for the second night in a row.

After losing to Houston Friday night, the Suns trailed the Atlanta Hawks nearly the entire game.

But Kevin Johnson came up with a little something extra in the final six minutes, and the Suns came from behind to beat Atlanta, 128-116.

The Hawks, who had 29 points from Dominique Wilkins, held a 110-109 lead when Johnson took charge.

Johnson, who finished with 27 points and 14 assists, led a 19-6 run that wiped out the Hawks’ hopes of revenge. On March 7 the Suns ended Atlanta’s 22-game home-court winning streak.

Johnson had seven points and four assists during the run.

Wilkins scored nine points during a 15-4 run in the first quarter. But he and his teammates tired in the final minutes; Wilkins scored only six points in the second half.

“It isn’t that we played so poorly last night,” Johnson said. “It was that the Rockets played so well. They are overflowing with confidence. They think every shot will go in.

“We think we have a great chance to win the division, but we knew we had to win this one. We had to reach back for something extra because it meant so much to us.”

The Suns, who finished 4-0 against the Hawks, are two games behind the second-place Lakers and 3 1/2 behind Portland in the Pacific Division.

“This was really a good win for us,” Coach Cotton Fitzsimmons said. “It was an uphill struggle all the way. Kevin did what he had to do to pull it out.”

Chicago 102, Cleveland 98--The Bulls, worn down by a tough game Friday night at Charlotte, struggled for more than a half, trailing, 61-50, early in the third quarter.

Then Michael Jordan, who had only nine points in the first half at Richfield, Ohio, took over. He scored nine points during a 17-3 rally that put the Bulls ahead late in the third quarter.

After the Cavaliers forged back to lead, 85-83, with eight minutes to play, Jordan scored the next eight points and the Bulls coasted.

Jordan had 28 of his 37 points in the second half to help the Bulls stretch their winning streak to seven.

He didn’t mind when Craig Ehlo grabbed him from behind and knocked him down to prevent a fast break. What got him riled was the way the crowd cheered the mugging.

“That really irked me,” said Jordan, who scored 15 points in the fourth quarter to break it open.

“In the first half, I was basically feeling things out. I wasn’t really into the game yet. I was trying to keep everybody involved.

“But the Cavaliers made it clear they were ready to play. We have to win games like this if we want the best overall record.”

Not only are the Bulls running away with the division, but their 48-15 is the best record in the league.

Utah 104, Seattle 98--An angry Coach Jerry Sloan blamed a “lousy” defense for a loss Friday night to Portland, but his players made amends in overtime at Seattle.

While the Jazz were holding the slumping SuperSonics to fewer than 100 points, John Stockton scored 10 of his 23 points in overtime and put Utah only 10 percentage points out of first place in the Midwest Division.

Sacramento 92, San Antonio 85--A trip to California was supposed to strengthen the Spurs’ grip on first place in the Midwest Division. But a loss at Sacramento cut their lead over Utah and was their second loss to a lower-level team.

They lost to the Clippers Wednesday night and will close out against the Lakers tonight.

The loss enabled idle Houston to pull within 2 1/2 games of first place.

New Jersey 110, Washington 86--Bill Fitch became only the fourth NBA coach to win 800 games, and this one at East Rutherford, N.J., was one of the easiest.

The injury-riddled Bullets, without Bernard King, were never in the game.

Fitch, who has lost 822 games, joins Red Auerbach, Jack Ramsay and Dick Motta in the group.

Derrick Coleman had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets.

Detroit 106, Orlando 99--The Pistons started scoring from outside during the fourth quarter at Auburn Hills, Mich., and clinched a playoff berth.

Vinnie Johnson, Joe Dumars and Bill Laimbeer combined for 18 of the Pistons’ 27 points and thwarted the Magic’s rally.

A jump shot by Dennis Scott pulled the Magic to within 91-88 with 4:42 left. But Laimbeer scored from the top of the key and Dumars made four free throws to seal the victory.

“It was lackadaisical play on our part that let them back in the game,” said Laimbeer, who had 20 points. “We have to start winning.”

Golden State 117, Dallas 105--Mitch Richmond scored 18 of his 36 points during the fourth quarter at Dallas and lifted the Warriors to victory.

Tim Hardaway had 33 points and 10 assists and Chris Mullin 26 points and 10 rebounds as the Warriors handed the Mavericks their 11th loss in the last 14 games.

“We lost to them the last time we played at our place, and it was on our minds tonight,” said Richmond, who was seven for 10 during the fourth quarter.