NBA ROUNDUP : Threatt’s Three-Pointer Beats Trail Blazers

The Seattle SuperSonics have been saying all along they could beat the Portland Trail Blazers.

In their seventh try this season, they finally did it in spectacular fashion with a 102-99 victory Tuesday night at Seattle.

Sedale Threatt sank a three-point shot with four seconds left to bring the SuperSonics from two points behind to a 100-99 lead.

Gary Payton stole Danny Ainge’s inbounds pass and fed Nate McMillan for the layup that finished the scoring.

The SuperSonics led by as many as 12 points in the first half.

The Trail Blazers, who still lead the best-of-five series, 2-1, not only caught up, they forged ahead when Kevin Duckworth put back a rebound with 21 seconds remaining. That gave Portland a 99-97 lead and set the stage for Threatt.

Benoit Benjamin, nursing a groin injury, scored 18 of his 26 points for Seattle in the first half.

Clyde Drexler had 23 points for Portland.

The fourth game will be played Thursday night at Seattle.

Chicago 103, New York 94--When the Bulls trounced the Knicks by 42 points in the opener of their first-round series, a sweep seemed certain.

The Bulls completed their sweep of the best-of-five series, but for the second game in a row the Knicks made it a battle.

But the Knicks, who led by 12 points in the second quarter, succumbed to another magnificent performance by Michael Jordan. Jordan scored 14 of his 33 points in a 29-11 run during the third quarter. Before the spurt New York led, 67-57.

Early in the fourth quarter, a three-point play by Jordan raised the Bulls’ lead to 86-71 and the Knicks couldn’t catch up.

The Bulls will play the surprising Philadelphia 76ers, who swept Milwaukee, in the next round.

Counting the sweep, the Bulls beat the Knicks seven times this season and have beaten the Knicks the last 10 times they met.

For this game, Jordan was Mr. Outside and Scottie Pippen was Mr. Inside.

Jordan made nine of his baskets on jumpers, and Pippen had 10 baskets, five on layups and five on dunks.

“I was taking what they gave me,” Jordan said. “Scottie was going to the basket hard. I used to do that, but I guess I’m getting too old for it.”

Patrick Ewing, although he made only seven of 16 shots from the field, had 20 points and 14 rebounds for the Knicks.

“We were beaten by a team that won 61 games during the season and we only won 39,” said Knick Coach John MacLeod, who is a candidate for the Notre Dame job. “That was the difference in the series. They’re a better team. After playing poorly in the first game, we did the best we could in the last two.”

Detroit 103, Atlanta 91--The Pistons showed the stuff champions are made off at Atlanta.

The aroused Hawks came out flying. They led, 30-15, after one quarter and built the lead to 17 points midway through the second quarter.

Then, Joe Dumars and Isiah Thomas rallied the Pistons, who cut the deficit to 56-44 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Dumars, who finished with 30 points, sank consecutive three-pointers, and with 3:40 left in the third quarter the Pistons led, 66-64. Atlanta never led again.

With a 2-1 lead in the series, the Pistons can wrap up the first round with a win Thursday night at Atlanta.

“We knew they would come out emotionally high,” Dumars said. “We felt if we could keep our composure, keep our poise and not fall completely out of it, we would be all right.

“We knew we could make a second-half run and we did. We aren’t dead yet.”

Philadelphia 121, Milwaukee 100--The 76ers didn’t dare lose this series after winning the first two games at Milwaukee. Charles Barkley announced plans to blow up the Spectrum if they blew the series.

Barkley, ignoring a cumbersome brace on his left knee, made sure he didn’t have to go through with his plan. Barkley had 30 points and 12 rebounds as the 76ers won handily.

The 76ers led by six after 12 minutes, then spurted to a 55-39 halftime edge and the Bucks were done.

Barkley said the Bucks gave him easy passing lanes.

“We knew if we got out fast and ran, they couldn’t keep up with us,” Barkley said. “We may not be the best in the league in personnel, but if we play as a team we can stay with anybody.”

Utah 107, Phoenix 98--The Jazz took a 2-1 lead over the Suns with this victory at Salt Lake City, and need only to win there Thursday night to wrap up the series.

Karl Malone scored 32 points for the Jazz, and Blue Edwards added 22, getting 14 in the fourth quarter and making six of six free throws in the final minute. John Stockton had 18 points and 12 assists, and reserve center Mike Brown had 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Tom Chambers scored 26 points and Dan Majerle added 19 for the Suns.

The Suns took an 86-85 lead with 4:39 remaining when Kurt Rambis scored on a tip-in, but Stockton countered with a driving layup and the Jazz never trailed thereafter.