NBA ROUNDUP : Johnson Picks Up the Pace, and Suns Follow in 114-108 Victory

Until late last season, the Phoenix Suns’ backcourt of Kevin Johnson and Jeff Hornacek was considered one of the best in the NBA.

But hamstring problems slowed Johnson last spring, and the Suns were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round by the Utah Jazz. Johnson was still hobbled at the start of this season, and after 11 games the Suns were last in the Pacific Division with a 3-8 record.

Once again Johnson is moving at full speed, Hornacek is playing his usual steady game and the Suns are moving up.

During a game in which Johnson shot poorly, Hornacek scored 11 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter Wednesday night at Indianapolis to lead the Suns to a 114-108 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

“We don’t just stand around anymore,” Hornacek said. “We just never let up. It’s because we’re back in good health. We didn’t give up when we were 16 points down on the road. That’s a good sign.”

Although he was only five for 20 from the field, Johnson maintained the fast pace, and the Suns won their fifth in a row. He had seven assists, four rebounds and two steals.

The Suns outscored the Pacers, 14-4, in the last 2:36 to win.

Rik Smits had 26 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacers.

“Tonight we should have won,” Indiana Coach Bob Hill said. “We outrebounded them, we only had 15 turnovers and 32 assists. We lost at the foul line. We weren’t moving our feet and we fouled them.”

The Pacers made 19 of 24 free throws, the Suns 32 of 40.

Chicago 108, Cleveland 102--It was not so long ago that when Michael Jordan was not at his best, the Bulls had their problems. Little bothers the defending champions these days.

Jordan, bothered by a back problem, was only seven for 20 from the field, but the Bulls returned home to get a club-record 13th consecutive victory.

Jordan had nine rebounds and nine assists but left the scoring up to Scottie Pippen (28 points) and Horace Grant (22).

In fact, Pippen took charge of the game. He had 15 rebounds and 10 assists for a triple-double.

“I don’t think about the winning streak,” Pippen said. “I’m happy about it, but it’s not something we carry on the court with us.”

Said Jordan: “The back is stiff. I wasn’t in the game, but it shows you how this team has progressed.”

Portland 124, Orlando 115--The Trail Blazers are another team picking up momentum. After winning 19 of their first 20 last season, they won only two of their first five this season.

But with Clyde Drexler leading the way, the Trail Blazers are once again on the run.

Drexler scored 34 points at Orlando, and the Trail Blazers won their third in a row to improve their record to 12-6.

The Magic led, 10-3, and stayed close until the Trail Blazers made a 20-11 run in the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter.

Boston 124, Miami 97--Robert Parish is 38, has spent 17 seasons as one of the top centers in the NBA and still is a factor.

Few centers can outplay the veteran Celtic when he is rested.

Parish played 35 minutes at Boston, made 13 of 16 shots and had 31 points and seven rebounds. Larry Bird had 28 points, 11 rebounds and missed a triple-double by two assists to lend his usual hand in the Celtics’ seventh victory in nine home games.

The Heat, which has lost six of its last seven games to fall below .500, made a battle of it for almost three quarters, but Bird had 18 points in the first 18 minutes of the second half to break it open.

Utah 101, Washington 74--The weary, ailing Bullets, playing their fourth game in six nights, were no match for the Jazz.

For the first 10 minutes, the Bullets, who had only eight players dressed and were missing starters Pervis Ellison and Michael Adams, played the Jazz tight.

But in the second and third quarters the Jazz, which ended a two-game losing streak, outscored the Bullets, 54-35, to improve its home record to 6-1.