NBA PLAYOFF ROUNDUP : Tiny Warriors Proving to Be Giant Killers

The Golden State Warriors are within a victory of a shocking upset.

The smaller Warriors built a big early lead Wednesday night at Oakland and held on to beat the San Antonio Spurs, 109-106.

The victory gave the Warriors a 2-1 lead in the best-of five series with the heavily favored Spurs and David Robinson. The Warriors can win the series Friday night at Oakland.

With Tim Hardaway and Mitch Richmond leading the way, the Warriors built a 16-point lead in the second quarter.

The Spurs, led by Sean Elliott, playing despite a broken nose suffered in Game 2, slowly cut into the lead. After three quarters, Golden State was only a point ahead.

But Richmond scored nine points in a 15-5 spurt that put Golden State in front, 101-89.

To that point Robinson had taken only one shot in the second half. When he did start shooting it was too late.

A three-point shot by Paul Pressey cut the Warrior lead to 108-106 with 32 seconds left. Chris Mullin was fouled and missed one free throw. With 17 seconds left, the Spurs had a chance to tie.

Elliott, who had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and Robinson missed wild three-point tries.

Boston 112, Indiana 105--The Rifleman’s gun jammed at Indianapolis and the Celtics regained command of the first-round series with the Pacers.

The “Rifleman,” Chuck Person, buried the Celtics with long-range shooting Sunday to even the series, 1-1, in Boston.

He made his first two shots Wednesday but never made another basket.

Kevin McHale scored 16 points in the second quarter and the Celtics stormed to victory and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series. The Celtics can clinch it with a victory at Indianapolis Friday night.

McHale, who has 67 points in the three games, sank back-to-back jump shots to put the Celtics ahead, 35-31, and they never relinquished the lead again.

Person finished with only six points.

Larry Bird still had shooting problems (four for 13), but he had nine rebounds and six assists.

“Sunday was a real slap in the face for us,” Boston Coach Chris Ford said. “It was a big challenge to our young guys. I think they all stepped forward.”