NBA ROUNDUP : Resurgent Spurs Beat the Jazz

David Robinson seems more relaxed since Larry Brown was fired as coach of the San Antonio Spurs and replaced by Bob Bass in late January.

With Robinson leading the way, the Spurs have a 19-7 record under Bass.

Robinson had a triple-double Saturday night at San Antonio to lead the Spurs to a 113-106 victory over the Utah Jazz. Robinson had 27 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists and served notice that the race in the Midwest Division isn’t over.

With 18 games remaining, the surging Spurs trail Utah by 2 1/2 games. The regular-season finale will be played between the two teams at San Antonio.

Although he only blocked three shots, Robinson was a force on defense. His presence forced Karl Malone, the NBA’s No. 2 scorer, to forgo his usual drives to the basket.

Malone, averaging 28 points, was only six for 18 shooting from the outside and scored 15 points.

“I knew for this game I have to come in at my best,” Robinson said. “We played intelligently, something we didn’t do in losing the first three times we played them.

“We were more aggressive than in past games, and that might have been the key.”

It was the fifth victory in a row for the Spurs, and it was the second time in a row they silenced a big gun. Thursday night, Houston center Hakeem Olajuwon was only two for 13 and scored only six points.

“They totally outplayed us,” Utah Coach Jerry Sloan said. “The game was simple. David Robinson had his usual tremendous game.”

New Jersey 96, New York 94--Derrick Coleman had 28 points and Chris Morris scored the first four points in overtime at New York to give the Nets the victory. It was the second road victory in a row for the Nets, who won only six road games last season.

Patrick Ewing scored 35 points, including four during the last 68 seconds, to send the game into overtime.

Detroit 89, Sacramento 83--Almost unnoticed, the Pistons are getting themselves in position for the playoffs.

Joe Dumars had 28 points and Dennis Rodman had 31 rebounds--the third time this season he has scored 30 or more--at Sacramento and the Pistons pulled away in the closing minutes to complete their five-game Western swing.

The Pistons have won seven in a row for a 40-35 record, the third best in the Eastern Conference.

Mitch Richmond scored 26 points for the Kings, who led by 67-65 after three quarters, only to lose their seventh in a row.

Chicago 112, Orlando 96--Michael Jordan was more upset at halftime at Orlando about the score than the fact he had only six points. The Bulls trailed, 54-46.

Then Jordan went to work. He scored 18 of his 26 points during the third quarter to lead a 39-12 rally that broke the game open.

Playing 38 minutes, Jordan also had 10 rebounds, nine assists and five steals. He made seven of nine shots during the third quarter.

“We were in a terrible funk in the first half,” Jordan said. “We know what our capabilities are. I hate to say it, but when it looks like our backs are against the wall, we’re able to turn it on.”

Milwaukee 110, Philadelphia 105--Charles Barkley, wearing a mask to protect his broken nose, had 33 points and 14 rebounds at Milwaukee, but Moses Malone sank four free throws during an 8-2 run that won the game.

The 76ers didn’t score during the last 2:21 after taking a 103-102 lead.

The Bucks (28-35) are last in the six-team fight for the final three berths in the East. But only 1 1/2 games separate Atlanta in sixth from the Bucks.

Atlanta 115, Miami 102--In the absence of Dominique Wilkins, sidelined for the season, the Hawks are turning to rookies to remain in the race.

Two of them, Paul Graham and Stacey Augmon, were instrumental in this victory at Atlanta that ended the Hawks’ seven-game losing streak.

Graham had 14 of his 20 points during the second half as the Hawks came from behind. Augmon had 24 points, making nine of his 13 shots.

Kevin Willis, who had only seven rebounds during Friday night’s loss to Portland, had 15 rebounds and 22 points.