NBA ROUNDUP : Person Lifts Pacers in Overtime, 115-113

The Indiana Pacers set a team record Friday night against the Atlanta Hawks when they allowed the ball to be stolen eight times in the first quarter.

But what began as a potential disaster for the Pacers instead turned into a triumph when Chuck Person made an off-balance 15-foot jump shot with 0.4 seconds left in overtime for a 115-113 victory at Atlanta.

Person scored seven of his 22 points in the final 2:08 as the Pacers outscored the Hawks, 8-2, to end a five-game losing streak at the Omni dating to 1989. The Pacers overcame a 15-point deficit with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

“I guess we showed them in the second half that we wanted to win,” Pacer forward LaSalle Thompson said. “We played terrible defense in the first half. That’s why they dominated us.”

The Pacers were leading, 113-111, when Duane Ferrell of the Hawks tied the score with seven seconds left. Atlanta, however, could not stop Person from making the winner from the left side.

Reggie Miller scored 12 of his 25 points in the final 5:42 of regulation and Michael Williams’ two free throws with 21 seconds left tied the score, 105-105, forcing overtime.

Alexander Volkov of the Hawks, who scored a career-high 21 points, missed a 20-foot jump shot at the buzzer to end regulation.

The Pacers made 22 of 24 free throws in the second half, including 19 in a row down the stretch.

Ferrell scored 21 points and Stacey Augmon had 20 for the Hawks, who fell to 1-6 in overtime games.

Philadelphia 88, Dallas 86--Charles Barkley scored the decisive basket on a layup with 10 seconds left at Philadelphia as the 76ers handed the Mavericks their 17th consecutive road loss.

Barkley, who scored 24 points and had 15 rebounds, also made a free throw with 0.3 seconds left.

Derek Harper of the Mavericks missed a jump shot with one second left.

Chicago 123, Miami 81--Michael Jordan scored 27 points, Horace Grant had 23 and Scottie Pippen added 21 at Chicago as the Bulls sent the Heat to its 14th loss by 20 points or more.

The Bulls scored the first 10 points and led, 15-2, midway through the first quarter, when Heat Coach Kevin Loughery pulled his entire first team.

Kevin Edwards led the Heat with 21 points.

Portland 114, Sacramento 106--Clyde Drexler scored 34 points to lead the Trail Blazers at Portland.

Terry Porter added 25 points for the Trail Blazers, who used a 25-4 run to pull ahead, 86-77, after three quarters.

Wayman Tisdale scored 23 points for the Kings, whose road record fell to 4-27.

Detroit 106, Denver 91--Joe Dumars scored 10 of his 30 points in the decisive third quarter when the Pistons made 80% of their shots en route to the victory at Denver.

Isiah Thomas also scored 10 of his 20 points in the third quarter for the Pistons, who won the opener of a five-game trip.

Dennis Rodman had 17 rebounds for the Pistons.

Utah 117, New Jersey 96--Jeff Malone made 13 of 17 shots and scored 27 points at Salt Lake City as the Jazz extended its NBA-best record at home to 28-3.

Karl Malone scored 25 points and John Stockton had 17 points and 16 assists for the Jazz, who made 63% of their shots in the first half en route to an 11-point halftime lead.

Derrick Coleman scored 18 points and had 10 rebounds for the Nets.

Milwaukee 124, Orlando 102--Jay Humphries scored 17 of his 22 points in the third quarter and the Bucks cruised at Milwaukee.

Milwaukee led, 77-55, with 5:31 left in the third quarter when Humphries, who had only five points in the first half, scored the Bucks’ next 14 points.