NBA ROUNDUP : Trail Blazers Start and Finish Fast to Win

There were times Tuesday night when it seemed the Portland Trail Blazers’ slump was over.

After leading the Pacific Division all season, they fell into second place, behind the Lakers, for almost 24 hours last week.

Even when they outlasted the Clippers to regain first place, they weren’t impressive.

But they built a 72-47 lead over Seattle in the first half at Portland and still led by 19 after three quarters.

A desperate rally by the SuperSonics cut the lead to five points with a little more than two minutes left, but the Trail Blazers turned it on again to win, 126-113.

Portland, with 14 games remaining, leads the Lakers by a game.

Clyde Drexler scored 30 points as the Trail Blazers stretched their lead over the Lakers to a full game.

It was the third victory in a row for the Trail Blazers but the first time they have beaten a team with a winning record in two weeks.

It was the 50th victory for Portland, which plays nine of its remaining games on the road, including a return match with the SuperSonics tonight at Tacoma, Wash.

San Antonio 129, New York 119--Sean Elliott took charge at San Antonio when David Robinson fouled out in overtime.

Elliott, who scored a season-high 34 points, blocked a shot by Patrick Ewing to preserve a two-point lead in overtime, then scored on an offensive rebound to put the Spurs in command.

The Knicks, who won their six previous overtime games this season, sent it into overtime when Trent Tucker and Maurice Cheeks sank three-point shots in the last 12 seconds.

Ewing outplayed Robinson, who had 19 points and nine rebounds, with 37 points and nine rebounds.

The Spurs, who trail Utah by one game in the Midwest Division, have emerged from a slump with the return of playmaker Rod Strickland.

They are 4-1 since Strickland recovered from a broken hand. He had 21 points and 16 assists.

Phoenix 117, Minnesota 95--The Suns bounced back at Phoenix after their shocking loss to the Clippers Monday night.

Kevin Johnson scored 16 of his 27 points in the first half to help the Suns build a 72-45 lead.

The Suns’ 48th victory left them two games behind the Lakers.

New Jersey 98, Philadelphia 95--Mookie Blaylock had six of his 25 points in overtime at East Rutherford, N.J., as the Nets won at East Rutherford, N.J.

Net rookie Derrick Coleman had 23 points and 13 rebounds. Charles Barkley had 32 points and 17 rebounds for the 76ers.

Indiana 123, Atlanta 113--Detlef Schrempf 16 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds as the Pacers improved to 25-10 at Indianapolis.

Charlotte 97, Golden State 94--Rex Chapman scored six points in the last 2:22 at Charlotte to climax the Hornets’ rally from 20 points down late in the third quarter.

Miami 104, Cleveland 98--Kevin Edwards had 28 points for the Heat and Grant Long hit four free throws in the last 34 seconds at Miami.