NBA ROUNDUP : Pistons Survive Shootout With Magic

The Detroit Pistons have gotten so hot, even more than a dozen three-pointers can’t beat them.

The Orlando Magic finished two short of the league record with 14 three-pointers, but could not overcome a late surge by Joe Dumars that led the Pistons to a 108-103 victory Wednesday at Auburn Hills, Mich.

The victory was Detroit’s fourth in a row and kept the Pistons unbeaten in 12 games against the Magic. After winning eight of its first 11 games, Orlando has lost five in a row.

Part of the reason for the Pistons’ surge is Dennis Rodman, who pulled down 22 rebounds, giving him at least 20 rebounds in each of the six games since he returned from a suspension.

Dumars, averaging 27 points in his last five games, scored 13 points in the final 3:27, including seven consecutive points to give Detroit a 98-93 lead with 2:09 to play. The Pistons never trailed again.

Dennis Scott, who led the Magic with 38 points, had eight three-pointers, breaking his own team record of six and finishing one short of the league record shared by Dale Ellis and Michael Adams. Isiah Thomas added 16 points for Detroit, and Shaquille O’Neal had 17 points and 11 rebounds for Orlando.

“I practice those shots with a man on me, but tonight they were wide open,” Scott said. “That’s the best shooting game I’ve had all year.”

The Pistons concentrated on O’Neal inside, a strategy the rookie said was the key to Orlando’s outside shooting.

“When they double- and triple-team all night, somebody is going to have a shot,” O’Neal said. “That’s all right with me.”

Dumars said the Pistons were confident at halftime because of the Magic’s hot outside shooting.

“We didn’t think there was any way they could keep hitting those shots,” Dumars said. “I couldn’t believe it when they kept it up. That was an incredible shooting display. In a game like that, you have to match them shot for shot or you will lose.”

Chicago 108, Cleveland 91--Michael Jordan had 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his first triple-double of the season to pace the Bulls at Chicago. B.J. Armstrong added a season-high 20 points for Chicago, which had dropped three of its previous five games.

Cleveland, mired in sixth place in the Central Division, lost its third consecutive game. Scottie Pippen added 17 points for the Bulls and Trent Tucker had 13.

Cleveland was led by Danny Ferry’s 16 points. John Battle had 15 and Brad Daugherty and Terrell Brandon had 14 each.

Philadelphia 115, Seattle 104--Hersey Hawkins scored 25 points and Jeff Hornacek added 20 as the 76ers ended a seven-game losing streak and won for the first time in six games in Philadelphia. Johnny Dawkins added 19 points for Philadelphia, which is 2-7 at the Spectrum.

Shawn Kemp scored a season-high 31 for Seattle, which lost its second game in two nights in a poor start to a four-game road trip in the East.

Tim Perry had 14 points and Clarence Weatherspoon and Ron Anderson each had 12 for the Sixers, who are tied with Minnesota for the league’s second-worst record.

Phoenix 110, Charlotte 101--Charles Barkley had 23 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists at Charlotte for his first triple-double as a member of the Suns as Phoenix won its fifth in a row. Phoenix is 3-0 on its five-game East Coast trip and has won seven of its last eight games.

Dan Majerle had 21 points for the Suns and Chambers had 15. Larry Johnson led Charlotte with 29 points and 12 rebounds.

Boston 129, Denver 119--Reggie Lewis scored 36 points and the Celtics shot 61% from the field while taking a 27-point lead before holding off the Nuggets in Boston.

Xavier McDaniel added 24 points for the Celtics, who led by 27 points in the third quarter but had the lead chopped to three in the final four minutes.

The Celtics have won seven of their last nine games after getting off to their worst start since 1978. Denver has lost seven of its eight road games.

Chris Jackson had 26 points for the Nuggets, Reggie Williams added 23 and Dikembe Mutombo had 19 points and 11 rebounds.