NBA ROUNDUP : Trail Blazers Win in New York

A year ago the Portland Trail Blazers won their first 11 games, kept the pressure on all season and wound up with the NBA’s best record (63-19). They were favored to win the championship.

After charging through the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Trail Blazers went flat and the Lakers knocked them out in six games.

This season the Trail Blazers seem to be picking their spots. They lost six of their first 15, but usually played extremely well against good teams.

They seem to be picking up the pace on an Eastern swing. On successive nights they have beaten Eastern powerhouses.

Terry Porter scored 10 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter at New York to bring the Trail Blazers from behind to a 96-91 victory over the Knicks Wednesday night.

Tuesday night they ended Cleveland’s 11-game winning streak.

Most teams struggle on the second night of back-to-back games. The Trail Blazers thrive on it. They have won the second game six times in a row.

The Knicks, with Xavier McDaniels scoring 19 points in the first half, built a 55-43 lead in the first minute of the second half before their shooters went sour.

The Knicks made only 12 of their last 40 shots and McDaniels was 0 for 7.

Still, the Knicks led by eight points until Porter and Clyde Drexler led a 25-6 burst in the fourth quarter.

“It doesn’t matter where we play, East or West, it’s important to play to our capability,” Portland Coach Rick Adelman said. “The last three weeks we have been playing really well.

“I was concerned at halftime that he had only four shots,” Adelman said of Porter. “We told him to get more aggressive offensively. He really came through in the fourth quarter.”

Portland has beaten the Knicks five times in a row and has pulled into a virtual tie with Golden State for first place in the Pacific Division.

“We had a great opportunity to open a cushion in the last quarter,” Knicks’ Coach Pat Riley said. “Instead, they tied it and, from that point on, they were just a better team than we were.”

New Jersey 130, Boston 120--Because Kevin McHale and Robert Parish joined Larry Bird on the injured list, the Celtics had only nine players at Boston.

With Reggie Lewis scoring 33 points, they led, 104-97, with eight minutes left.

But rookie Kenny Anderson, a disappointment so far, had rested for three quarters. He came on to score eight points in a 13-0 rally that wiped out Celtic hopes.

Although Parish may play Friday night, Bird and McHale are on the disabled list along with talented guard Dee Brown.

The improving Nets have won five out of six.

Detroit 118, Indiana 104--Michael Jordan warned a month ago not to count the Pistons out yet. He’s proving to be a prophet.

Bill Laimbeer had 25 points in 36 minutes at Indianapolis and Dennis Rodman had 20 rebounds to lead the Pistons to their 12th victory in the last 14 games.

The Pistons, who had lost both earlier games to the Pacers, moved in front soon after giving up the first four points and held control throughout.

Miami 134, Milwaukee 115--Bimbo Coles, starting at guard in place of injured Steve Smith, played a major role at Miami in the Heat’s victory.

Coles, in his third start, had six points and two assists in a 13-4 run in the third quarter that put the Heat in front by 16 points.

Coles finished with 20 points and a personal-best 12 assists.

Phoenix 128, Sacramento 111--Kevin Johnson scored 28 points at Sacramento and the Suns pulled away in the second half to win their fifth in a row and tighten the race in the Pacific Division.

The Suns, with Dan Majerle scoring 24 points in a reserve role, pulled to within one-half game of first place.