NBA ROUNDUP : Marciulionis Helps Warriors Win, 143-141

One of the reasons Golden State Coach Don Nelson traded veteran Mitch Richmond to Sacramento for rookie Billy Owens was Sarunas Marciulionis.

Marciulionis, the former Soviet star from Lithuania, needed more than 20 minutes a game to prove his worth. With Chris Mullin, Richmond and Tim Hardaway playing ahead of him, he wouldn’t get it.

Although he comes off the bench, Marciulionis is getting his minutes--and the Warriors are better for it.

Marciulionis scored eight of his 28 points during the fourth quarter Saturday night at Dallas to lead the Warriors to a 143-141 victory over the Mavericks.

It was the 11th consecutive loss for the Mavericks, who haven’t won since Dec. 23 and are only four losses away from the club record.

The Warriors, the highest scoring team in the league, opened a 16-point lead. The Mavericks scored 45 points in the last quarter, but never were closer than the final margin.

“Marciulionis is so explosive,” Nelson said. “He can come off the bench and get points quickly. Without any warmup, he can step on the court and be dominant, just like that.

“I think it helps him a bit to watch the other players for a few minutes. Then he can go in and know where to attack. He’s an ideal sixth man.”

Last season, he averaged 11 points despite playing little. This season, while averaging 13 more minutes, he is averaging 19 points.

“We understand each other on the floor,” Marciulionis said. “All the guys are positive.”

When Nelson traded Richmond, who averaged 24 points last season, it was predicted the Warriors would suffer. Instead, they have won 24 of 34 games. A year ago. they were 18-16.

Derek Harper scored 38 points for Dallas.

Utah 108, Houston 80--Karl Malone scored 34 points and had 15 rebounds at Salt Lake City to lead the Jazz, which opened a 2 1/2-game lead over San Antonio atop the Midwest Division.

The Jazz improved its home record to 16-1, best in the NBA.

Hakeem Olajuwon, who had only 13 points, fouled out with almost four minutes left. The game had been decided long before that.

Cleveland 108, New York 106--The Knicks, who haven’t won in Richfield, Ohio since 1987, led, 106-105, and had the ball with 16 seconds to play.

But Mark Price stole the ball from rookie Greg Anthony and passed to Craig Ehlo for the winning layup. Ehlo was fouled on the play and made the free throw.

“I thought they would try to run out the clock,” Price said. “Then I saw him cut, and I was able to grab the ball.”

The Knicks had two chances to tie. Kiki Vandeweghe, who had a season-high 22 points, missed a 20-footer with five seconds left and Anthony’s wide-open 16-footer as the game ended bounced off the rim.

Cavalier center Brad Daugherty outscored counterpart Patrick Ewing, 31-28, as Cleveland ended a two-game losing streak and stretched the Knicks’ skid to three.

The Knicks, who led most of the first half, gave up the lead, regained it early in the fourth quarter, then blew the victory.

Philadelphia 105, Washington 101--After Charles Barkley played one of his poorest games Friday night at Boston, the Celtics’ Kevin McHale said he thought the last two barroom incidents had taken the fight out of the 76ers’ star.

But Barkley had 15 of his 30 points in the final 12 minutes, including a baseline jumper with the score tied, 101-101, in the closing seconds, as the 76ers ended a three game losing streak.

Pervis Ellison had 28 points and 16 rebounds for the Bullets.

New Jersey 112, Minnesota 100--Drazen Petrovic scored 11 of his 30 points during the third quarter at Minneapolis to help the Nets rally for their 10th victory in 13 games.

The Nets trailed by as many as 13 points during the first half, but outscored the Timberwolves, 38-18, during the third quarter.

Indiana 127, Miami 103--Reggie Miller scored 13 of his 32 points during the third quarter and the Pacers ended a losing streak at three games at Indianapolis.

Miller was 13 for 14, including a perfect four for four on three-pointers.

The Heat went on a 13-2 run early in the second half to cut Indiana’s lead to 75-73. But Miller took charge, making back-to-back steals and layups to trigger a 13-2 run the put the Pacers back in control.

Sacramento 119, Charlotte 113--Mitch Richmond had 24 points and Wayman Tisdale 23 at Sacramento to help the Kings end a three-game losing streak.

It was the third loss in four games on the Hornets’ trip West, which will end at Golden State Monday.