NBA ROUNDUP : Rodman’s 34 Rebounds Carry the Pistons

The game’s result and how it was achieved was almost secondary to Dennis Rodman’s rebounding performance.

Rodman set a Detroit Piston record with 34 rebounds in a 110-107 victory over the Indiana Pacers Wednesday at Auburn Hills, Mich., achieved when Isiah Thomas scored five of his 31 points in overtime.

Rodman’s total was one better than Bob Lanier’s previous club record, set in 1972. It was the best rebounding performance in the NBA in almost four years, since Charles Oakley had 35 for the Chicago Bulls on April 22, 1988.

The total included 18 offensive rebounds, another team record. The old record was 13, set by Earl Williams on Jan. 2, 1976. Rodman fell short of Moses Malone’s NBA record of 21.

With Rodman almost outrebounding the Pacers himself, the Pistons held a 58-38 advantage, 8-0 in overtime.

“The final analysis is that the rebounding took its toll,” Pacer Coach Bob Hill said. “We didn’t keep them off the boards, but (Dennis) Rodman’s a freak of nature. He keeps coming and coming, like Joe Frazier when he fought Ali.”

Although Rodman, who leads the NBA in rebounding, cried when he realized he had broken Lanier’s record, he downplayed the achievement.

“I have just been in the right place at the right time,” Rodman said. “I got emotional because when you work so hard to accomplish something, it is a great feeling when it finally pays off.”

The Pistons won four of five on their just-completed home stand and now head to the West for a five-game trip.

Boston 125, Orlando 100--Larry Bird scored 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in 29 minutes for his second consecutive double-double since a two-month layoff with a back injury.

Bird was one of nine Celtics in double figures as Boston won a second consecutive game for the first time in more than a month.

Orlando lost its fourth game in a row and the 14th in its last 17 outings.

Philadelphia 107, Atlanta 102--Hersey Hawkins scored 31 points, including a crucial three-point shot with 35 seconds to play, as the 76ers won at home.

Charles Barkley also had 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Rumeal Robinson had a personal-best 30 points for the Hawks, who played without Kevin Willis, the league’s No. 2 rebounder. Willis was sidelined with tendinitis in his left ankle.

Utah 102, San Antonio 93--Karl Malone scored 26 points, 13 in the fourth quarter, as the Jazz extended its lead over the Spurs in the Midwest Division to four games by winning at Salt Lake City.

It also extended Utah’s home record, best in the NBA, to 27-3.

Charlotte 119, Milwaukee 110--Kendall Gill scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half and Larry Johnson added 25 points as the Hornets overcame a 17-point first-half deficit at Milwaukee.

The victory was Charlotte’s fifth in a row and 10th in its last 13 games.

J.R. Reid added 23 points, including 15 in the second half for the Hornets, who broke a three-game road losing streak.

Portland 129, Denver 100--The Trail Blazers, with Danny Ainge leading the way with 23 points in reserve, had no trouble in Denver.

Portland used its bench most of the time and shot 60% from the field while leading all the way after taking charge only 90 seconds into the game.

The victory pushed the Trail Blazers a full game ahead of the Golden State Warriors in the Pacific Division. It was Denver’s seventh consecutive defeat.

Cleveland 109, Sacramento 108--Craig Ehlo followed a steal with an eight-foot jump shot with 1.2 seconds left in the Cavaliers’ rally at Sacramento.

Sacramento didn’t produce a field goal for 5:22 late in the fourth quarter, yet still had held a 104-97 edge with five minutes left. Ehlo tied the score, 105-105, with two free throws with 2:35 remaining.

Pete Chilcutt’s short running hook gave the Kings a 107-105 lead, and Mitch Richmond made a free throw with 1:32 remaining.

But Larry Nance hit a corner jump shot with 32 seconds remaining, followed by Ehlo’s steal with 9.6 seconds left. After a timeout, Ehlo followed Brad Daugherty’s missed jump shot with his basket from the middle of the key.

Wayman Tisdale scored 27 points and Richmond contributed 23 for Sacramento.

Daugherty paced seven Cleveland players in double figures with 21 points, 16 in the first half, and added a game-high 11 rebounds.