NBA ROUNDUP : Texas Sweep Increases Trail Blazer Lead to 3 1/2

The Portland Trail Blazers completed what was supposed to be a difficult trip with a sweep of Texas.

Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter led the Trail Blazers to a 105-100 victory Wednesday night at San Antonio. It was the 12th consecutive victory for the Trail Blazers.

Even more amazing, they wound up an unbeaten six-game trip by being the first team since 1987 to win at Dallas, Houston and San Antonio on the same trip.

Drexler had 22 points and Porter 19 as the Trail Blazers tied a franchise record with their 59th victory. With a 3 1/2-game lead over the Lakers and four of their remaining games at home, the Blazers seem a cinch to win the Pacific Division championship and post the best overall record in the NBA.

In February, 1987, Boston swept a series in Texas. The next 43 teams that tried it failed. This season there were 12 teams and they had a combined 7-29 record.

“We’ve been working real hard to have the best record,” Drexler said. “All we’re really trying to do is win the division. But sweeping in Texas is some achievement.”

San Antonio’s lead in the Midwest Division fell to one game over Utah and 1 1/2 over Houston.

“They just came in and took one from us,” said Rod Strickland, who had 19 points. “They came in hungry and won a big ballgame.”

The Spurs lost even though David Robinson had another big game. He scored 27 points and had 18 rebounds.

The Trail Blazers return home to play the Lakers Saturday afternoon. If they pull out that victory, they can clinch the division title.

Chicago 101, Indiana 96--A month or so ago the Bulls were winning big most of the time. Now, every game is a struggle.

Michael Jordan scored 10 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter at Indianapolis, and the Bulls shut down the Pacers in the closing minutes.

The Pacers made only three field goals in the final six minutes.

The Bulls are two games ahead of Boston in the battle for the best record in the East.

“We controlled the boards and played a half-court game in the second half,” Jordan said. “We wanted to slow it down and play our game, which we didn’t really do in the first half.

“I still think we are capable of playing better. If we expect to challenge for the championship, we will have to.”

Utah 97, Dallas 91--Karl Malone scored 12 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter at Salt Lake City to rally the Jazz.

The Jazz started a spurt after falling behind, 60-41, early in the third quarter.

Malone had help from John Stockton and Jeff Malone as the Jazz wiped out the 19-point deficit.

The Mavericks still led by seven going into the last quarter. But, with Karl Malone taking charge, the Jazz outscored the Mavericks, 32-19, in the final 12 minutes.

Derek Harper scored 34 points for the Mavericks, who have lost nine of the past 10 games.

Cleveland 94, Detroit 90--When Isiah Thomas returned and led them to a victory last week, the Pistons started talking about a third consecutive NBA championship.

But Thomas, after the Pistons lost their third in a row in this game at Auburn Hills, Mich., is perturbed about the attitude of some of the Pistons.

“We need a tight ship,” he said, “but right now we have some ‘stowaways’ and we can’t have that. Everyone has to pull his load if we are going to win it.

“They all want to win, but do they want to die to win it? That’s what they have to do.”

Brad Daugherty had 23 points and Larry Nance 22 as the Cavaliers dropped the Pistons within one-half game of Milwaukee in the battle for the No. 3 playoff spot.

Thomas, obviously uncomfortable after surgery on his right wrist, was six for 15 from the field. He is 15 for 42 in the past three games.

Philadelphia 100, New York 84--Ron Anderson had 25 points and 10 rebounds at Philadelphia and the 76ers retained their slim hopes of earning a home-court edge in the first round of the playoffs.

The 76ers improved to 3-1 without Charles Barkley, who has a sprained ankle. With the Pistons losing three in a row, the 76ers have a chance to catch either Milwaukee or the Pistons for the last spot.

Miami 112, Washington 106--Rony Seikaly came out of a slump with 27 points and 16 rebounds at Miami to help the Heat end a four-game losing streak.

Pervis Ellison had 19 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Bullets.