NBA ROUNDUP : Spurs Win Despite Robinson’s Struggles, 109-91

The San Antonio Spurs are learning that they don’t need David Robinson’s scoring to carry them.

Robinson struggled offensively Monday night, making only eight of 22 shots. But the Spurs defeated the Detroit Pistons, 109-91, at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Robinson scored 18 points, six below his average, but eight of them came as the Spurs were putting the game away in the fourth quarter.

“I knew I couldn’t be that bad all game,” Robinson said. “For the first three quarters, I couldn’t even hit the rim.”

Robinson also had 14 rebounds and four blocks.

“David wasn’t shooting well early, but he played great defense all night long,” said Dale Ellis, who had 23 points. “Then he hit some big shots down the stretch.”

The Spurs have won five of their last six games.

“We weren’t expecting to get this one, especially on the road,” Spur Coach John Lucas said.

Joe Dumars scored 20 points for the Pistons and Dennis Rodman had his third consecutive 26-rebound game. He has had 20 or more rebounds in 16 of the last 21 games.

Charlotte 132, Dallas 113--Larry Johnson, a native of Dallas, scored 24 points in front of 250 friends and family members as the Hornets dealt the Mavericks their 12th consecutive defeat.

“Larry Johnson’s a great player,” Maverick Coach Richie Adubato said. “His heart is bigger than his body. He has a small forward’s body but a big forward’s game.”

Kendall Gill scored 20 points and Alonzo Mourning had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Hornets, who had seven players score more than 10 points.

Charlotte (17-14), off to its best start, had a 28-16 lead after one quarter and increased it to 21 points by halftime.

Last season, the Hornets did not win their 17th game until Feb. 19.

“You’ve got to come in here and win these games,” Hornet Coach Allan Bristow said. “It wasn’t so long ago that we were sitting where the Mavericks are, struggling to get a win against anybody.”

The Mavericks, who have lost by an average of 21 points during the losing streak, had another 12-game losing streak earlier this season. Only Denver, which lost 14 consecutive games, has had a longer losing streak this season.

Sean Rooks had 20 points for Dallas and Derek Harper added 17.

The Hornets made 15 of their first 23 shots while the Mavericks missed 14 of their first 20.

The Hornets made 70% of their shots in the second quarter, 63% in the first half.