NBA ROUNDUP : Patient Nets Beat Pistons on the Road, 99-90

There is a tendency in professional sports to solve problems by firing the coach.

Although many New Jersey Net fans wanted a new coach for Christmas, the team resisted and gave Coach Bill Fitch another chance. The Nets have no regrets.

The Nets were 7-18 after 25 games, but are 19-13 since management decided not to fire Fitch. Although playing without injured stars Derrick Coleman and Sam Bowie, the Nets rallied to beat the Detroit Pistons, 99-90, Saturday night at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Terry Mills, starting in place of Coleman at forward, had 25 points. Reserves Tate George and Rafael Addison had nine and 10 points, respectively, during the fourth quarter as the Nets rallied from a two-point deficit.

“I was upset because I wasn’t playing,” George said. “I knew I had to be aggressive against Joe Dumars and Isiah Thomas.”

The Nets’ first road victory against the Pistons since 1984 enabled them to win their 26th game, their total for last season.

Orlando Woolridge scored 16 of his 30 points during the first quarter to lead the Pistons, and Dennis Rodman, playing the entire game, had 23 rebounds.

Golden State 136, Miami 110--The Heat’s bid for a playoff berth keeps fading during its trip west.

Rookie Billy Owens led the Warriors with 23 points at Oakland as the Warriors improved to 38-17 in the Pacific Division.

The Warriors can move into first place if the Trail Blazers lose today at Chicago.

Sacramento 115, Seattle 110--The SuperSonics’ five-game winning streak ended at Sacramento.

Lionel Simmons had 27 points and Mitch Richmond 26 to lead the Kings to their second victory in a row and a 16-11 record at home.

The Kings led by 64-53 at halftime and increased it to 18 late in the last quarter.

Charlotte 121, Indiana 119--Rookie Larry Johnson sank an 18-foot jump shot as the game ended at Charlotte as the Hornets scored a club-record fourth consecutive victory.

The Pacers had rallied from an eight-point deficit with 3:50 to play, tying the score on two free throws by Reggie Miller with 14 seconds remaining.

New York 103, Minnesota 87--Xavier McDaniel sank a layup and a jump shot, sparking an 8-0 run during the third quarter at New York that put the Knicks in front to stay.

Then Patrick Ewing, who had 19 points and 11 rebounds, scored seven during a 16-6 spurt that turned the game into a rout.

Philadelphia 101, Washington 92--Charles Barkley, who had only seven points in 30 minutes during Thursday night’s loss at Charlotte, made amends at Landover, Md.

Barkley had 33 points and 11 rebounds and the 76ers bounced back from a 52-point loss to the Hornets.

San Antonio 115, Denver 112--When Nugget rookie Dikembe Mutombo was in early foul trouble, it made things easy for David Robinson at San Antonio.

Robinson had 34 points to seven for Mutombo, but the Spurs barely held on after wasting a 15-point third-quarter lead.