NBA ROUNDUP : It’s Payback Time for Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets received the first major dividend from their investment in Larry Johnson.

The 6-foot-7 No. 1 draft choice from Nevada Las Vegas took charge of the Hornets’ 118-109 victory over the Boston Celtics Saturday night at Charlotte, N.C.

Johnson, who cost the Hornets $20 million for a six-year contract, had 27 points and 15 rebounds to lead them to their second victory in 10 games. It ended a five-game losing streak and halted the Celtics’ three-game winning streak.

The Celtics took a 58-53 lead. But Johnson and Kendall Gill led a third-quarter rally that produced a six-point lead.

Gill, who had 24 points, nine rebounds and six assists, scored two baskets late in the third quarter to give the Hornets the lead for good, 82-79.

During the fourth quarter, Johnson had three points in a 7-0 run that clinched the victory. It was only the second time in 14 games the Hornets have beaten Boston.

Larry Bird had 25 points and Reggie Lewis 26 for the Celtics.

“The difference tonight was playing hard for 48 minutes instead of just 32,” said Johnson, who averaged 12.3 points in his first nine games. “We have been a little sluggish in previous games, but with the crowd behind us, we were a different team.”

Philadelphia 89, Detroit 86--The 76ers, despite only 15 points from Charles Barkley, won at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Barkley, who had 28 points in the 122-97 loss at Boston on Friday night, was held in check by Dennis Rodman. Ron Anderson took over for the 76ers, who overcame 40.5% shooting to prevail. Anderson had 13 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter as the 76ers overcame a five-point deficit.

Isiah Thomas had 25 points and seven assists for the Pistons, who fell to 5-4.

Denver 122, Portland 111--Tuesday night at Portland, the Trail Blazers beat the Nuggets, 120-82.

In the return game at Denver, the Nuggets, after falling behind by 10 points in the second quarter, shot 66.7% from the field after intermission. They made 11 consecutive shots during the third quarter to take charge and end the Trail Blazers’ four-game winning streak.

Reggie Williams, making 13 of 18 shots, led all scorers with 31 points. Terry Porter led Portland with 21.

Dallas 91, Phoenix 88--Derek Harper made a 22-foot jumper to give the Mavericks the lead with 27 seconds left at Dallas, then made two free throws to clinch the Mavericks’ second victory in a row.

The Suns fought back from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to take an 88-87 lead. The Mavericks were in a two-for-17 slump before Harper made the winning basket.

Rolando Blackman, who has made 43 consecutive free throws, led Dallas with 22 points.

San Antonio 106, New York 89--For 3 1/2 quarters at San Antonio, it was a battle to a standstill.

But the Knicks wilted under pressure and the Spurs went on a 16-4 run to break the game open.

A three-point play by David Robinson triggered the spurt, which began with 6:20 left and San Antonio leading by three points.

In the battle of the centers, the Knicks’ Patrick Ewing had 20 points and 12 rebounds to Robinson’s 15 points and nine rebounds.

The finish upset Knick Coach Pat Riley.

“The carnage is still out there all over the floor and it is embarrassing,” he said. “We didn’t respond well to their pressure.”

Miami 120, Milwaukee 116--The Heat is no longer an expansion team. With Grant Long scoring 22 points at Milwaukee, including the go-ahead basket with 26 seconds left in overtime, the Heat climbed to three games over .500 for the first time ever (5-2).

Glen Rice scored 30 points for the Heat, which wiped out a 15-point deficit in the second half.

Cleveland 127, Indiana 117--The return of Mark Price has given the Cavaliers a lift.

With Larry Nance scoring 27 points and Brad Daugherty 21, the Cavaliers won their third in a row since the star guard returned after being sidelined for almost a year. Price, still not ready to go all-out, had 13 points and nine assists.

The Cavaliers made 35 of 46 free throws while Indiana had 21, making 19.

Utah 107, Washington 98--Jeff Malone made it a miserable night for his former teammates at Landover, Md.

Malone scored 28 points, including two key jumpers that halted a Bullet rally in the closing minutes. He was 13 for 21 from the field.

“I don’t get any special satisfaction,” Malone said. “I wish them only the best--against everyone else.”

Orlando 102, New Jersey 100--The expansion teams are getting better. The Nets are not.

Dennis Scott had 25 points and Jerry Reynolds made a driving layup with 4.3 seconds left at Orlando to give the Magic its fifth victory in eight games.

It was the seventh loss in a row for the Nets (1-7), who have the worst record in the league.

The Nets were without their best player, Derrick Coleman, who suffered a sprained ankle Friday night.

Houston 102, Sacramento 93--The Rockets came out of their shooting slump at Sacramento as Hakeem Olajuwon scored 23 points.

In losing to the Lakers Friday night, the Rockets had gone scoreless for the last 7:14.