NBA ROUNDUP : Hawks Finally Beat Pistons, 89-77

The Atlanta Hawks didn’t like the odds going into the game.

They had lost nine times in a row to the Detroit Pistons, who were working on seven-game winning streak and playing at home in Auburn Hills, Mich.

But the Hawks played great defense and got 22 points from backup forward Duane Ferrell and finally beat the Pistons, 89-77, Monday night.

The victory was the second in a row for Atlanta, which broke a seven-game losing streak Saturday night.

The Hawks led, 55-39, at halftime and increased the lead to 62-42 early in the third quarter before Orlando Woolridge scored six points during a 12-2 that pulled the Pistons within 10. But Atlanta responded with six consecutive points and led 73-59 after three.

The Pistons narrowed the gap to 87-77 with 3:10 left, but got no closer.

The 77 points was Detroit’s lowest output of the season and the best defensive game for Atlanta.

Chicago 116, Miami 100--Michael Jordan scored 37 points and keyed two fourth-quarter surges at Miami, where the Bulls won their sixth game in a row.

Chicago led 96-81 before two baskets by Willie Burton, a three-pointer by Steve Smith and a three-point play by Rony Seikaly closed the Heat to 96-91 with 6:17 left in the game.

Then Jordan hit a 17-footer, passed to B.J. Armstrong for a three-point basket and scored on a dunk to rebuild the margin to 103-91 at the 3:53 mark.

Seikaly had 21 points and 18 rebounds for Miami, 0-14 in games against Chicago.

Cleveland 111, Washington 102--John Battle scored 12 points in the fourth quarter as the Cavaliers, playing without ailing center Brad Daugherty, rallied to victory at Landover, Md.

Daugherty, Cleveland’s leading scorer and rebounder, left the game late in the first half with a stomach virus and finished with three points, ending his string of 169 consecutive games in double figures.

Charlotte 117, San Antonio 112--Larry Johnson scored 27 points as the Hornets fended off a fourth-quarter rally at San Antonio and ended the Spurs’ 10-game home winning streak.

David Robinson led the Spurs with 31 points, and Terry Cummings had 22.

Tyrone Bogues scored 22 points for Charlotte, which has won eight of 10 games.