NBA ROUNDUP : Spurs Sluggish in Victory Over Suns

The San Antonio Spurs moved closer to their second consecutive Midwest Division title Sunday with a 109-101 victory at Phoenix, but they did nothing to indicate they were ready to challenge for the NBA championship.

The Spurs, who lead Utah by a game with four to play, were not impressive in the nationally televised game. They couldn’t put the injury-riddled Suns away.

Center David Robinson had 23 points and 15 rebounds, but he missed a number of easy shots and lacked aggressiveness.

The Suns were without their key player, playmaker Kevin Johnson, and their sixth man, Dan Majerle. Johnson has a hamstring injury and Majerle has spinal nerve irritation.

They would have been better off if Tom Chambers, who missed three games with a lower back injury, had remained on the bench with Johnson and Majerle. Chambers shot the ball 15 times and made only two, including a goaltending call against Robinson.

Despite all the problems, the Suns made the Spurs work. They cut an 18-point deficit to three in the third quarter and wouldn’t quit.

Using rookies and subs, they blocked a club-record 16 shots, with Mark West blocking six.

“We needed this one pretty bad,” Robinson said. “The loss to Seattle the other night really hurt us. Now our backs are to the wall. I think we were a little more focused today.”

Phoenix Coach Cotton Fitzsimmons was proud of the effort. “My team played as hard as it could play,” he said. “We just didn’t have enough weapons to beat them.”

Portland 139, Orlando 119--The Trail Blazers wrapped up the best overall record in the NBA with this victory at Portland, their 61st of the season.

Chicago could still win 61, but the Trail Blazers beat the Bulls twice this season, so they will get the home-court edge in every series.

Clyde Drexler had 23 points and 11 rebounds in the first three quarters, then retired for the night, the Trail Blazers’ 14th victory in a row assured.

Indiana 125, Detroit 107--The Pistons were hoping the return of Isiah Thomas would give them momentum for the playoffs. So far, it isn’t happening.

With Thomas going five for 18 at Indianapolis, the Pistons lost for the fourth time in the six games Thomas has played since recovering from wrist surgery.

Reggie Miller had 24 points and the Pacers, moving closer to the seventh spot in the East, scored the most points against Detroit this season.

The Pistons are only half a game ahead of Milwaukee in the race for the third spot.

Boston 115, New York 102--Despite the absence of Larry Bird, who has back problems, the Celtics are still in the chase for the best record in the East.

Kevin Gamble scored 28 points and the Celtics, beating the Knicks for the 20th time in a row at Boston, moved to within a game of Chicago. There are four games left for both, but they don’t meet.

Minnesota 96, Philadelphia 88--Tony Campbell scored 23 points at Philadelphia as the Timberwolves beat the 76ers, still without injured Charles Barkley.

Washington 101, Miami 96--Ledell Eackles scored nine of his 17 points in an 18-5 spurt in the fourth quarter at Landover, Md., sending the Heat to its 12th road loss in a row.