NBA ROUNDUP : Trail Blazers Lose Late Lead, Game

The Portland Trail Blazers appeared to have their seventh victory in a row when they took an 84-78 lead with four minutes to play at San Antonio on Tuesday night.

The Trail Blazers, who have one of the the best benches in the NBA, usually dominate a game in the closing minutes.

Not this time. Except for a goaltending call on a layup by Danny Ainge, the Trail Blazers didn’t make a basket in the last four minutes and the Spurs won, 95-88.

Clyde Drexler, who missed four shots during that stretch, argued vehemently when called for an offensive foul with four seconds to play. He was given two technicals and ejected from the game. The Spurs led, 91-88, at the time, but Sean Elliott made two free throws and Terry Cummings completed the scoring with a layup.

The Spurs’ David Robinson had his first triple-double of the season: 23 points, 14 rebounds and 11 blocks.

Drexler was 10-for-32 from the field and teammate Terry Porter was five-for-23.

While the starting guards were shooting 27%, the rest of the team was 23 for 50.

The Spurs, who trailed by 45-42 at halftime, won with a 31-point fourth quarter. In the last four minutes they made 11 free throws, including four in a row by Rod Strickland that gave them an 89-86 lead with 35 seconds to play.

New York 122, Miami 91--The led the Heat by only 39-37 halfway through the second period at New York. Then center Patrick Ewing took charge.

In 2 1/2 minutes, Ewing made three jumpers, a tip-in and a free throw and the Knicks went ahead, 59-41. From then on the Heat, which is 0-8 in New York, never threatened.

In the last five minutes of the half, the Heat missed 10 consecutive shots.

Ewing played 33 minutes, scoring 19 points, grabbing 13 rebounds and blocking six shots.

“We were disappointed when we allowed the Warriors 120 points Sunday, especially giving up 31 layups,” Knick Coach Pat Riley said.

Charlotte 115, Washington 99--The Hornets ended a losing streak at three games at the expense of the slumping Bullets, at Charlotte.

Rookie Larry Johnson had 18 points and 10 rebounds and the Hornets moved in front with a 34-point second quarter. They led throughout the second half.

The Bullets’ Pervis Ellison, after making his first four shots, made only five of his next 15. He he led the Bullets with 19 points and 11 rebounds. The Bullets lost for the ninth time in 10 games.