NBA ROUNDUP : Wilkins Celebrates by Scoring 28 Points

Dominique Wilkins, celebrating his 33rd birthday and his return to the lineup after missing four weeks because of a broken finger, scored 28 points Tuesday night as Atlanta snapped a seven-game home losing streak with a 126-118 victory over Golden State at Atlanta.

Wilkins, who matched his season average, made a three-point shot with 2:24 to play to give the Hawks a 111-105 lead.

“I really did not expect ‘Nique to be able to come back and do what he did,” Atlanta Coach Bob Weiss said. “We don’t win this one without Dominique. He drew double-teams all night, but he scored.”

Wilkins promised to play a stronger leadership role after his return. The Hawks were 4-7 in his absence.

It was the 10th consecutive loss in Atlanta for Golden State, which led by 18 points in the second quarter before the Hawks closed to 70-62 at halftime.

Atlanta continued the rally with a 17-4 run late in the third period. Kevin Willis’ hook shot tied the score, 89-89, with 20 seconds to play in the quarter and Mookie Blaylock’s shot from the key at the buzzer gave the Hawks a 91-89 lead.

Baskets by Stacey Augmon, who scored 24 points, Travis Mays and Wilkins gave Atlanta a 97-91 lead with nine minutes left. Blaylock, who scored 24 points, sank a three-pointer with 1:52 to play, giving the Hawks a 114-107 edge.

Chris Mullin scored 26 points and Tim Hardaway had a season-high 18 assists for Golden State.

Seattle 122, Phoenix 113-- Derrick McKey scored 24 points for the SuperSonics at Seattle in a game that matched the teams with the best records in the NBA.

The SuperSonics, 23-8 overall and an NBA-best 16-1 at home, defeated the Suns (23-6) for the first time in three games this season. The Suns beat the SuperSonics twice in Phoenix.

Eddie Johnson led Seattle in the fourth quarter with nine points, to finish with 15. Shawn Kemp had 22 points, Ricky Pierce 21 and Gary Payton 20 for Seattle.

Charles Barkley scored 27 points for the Suns but had only two in the fourth quarter. He missed all six of his three-point attempts.

Portland 109, Denver 100--Clyde Drexler, playing in his first game since being sidelined Dec. 22 by an injury to his right knee, had 17 points and nine assists as the Trail Blazers won at Portland.

Cliff Robinson led the Trail Blazers with 19 points. Reggie Williams scored 22 points and Dikembe Mutombo had a season-high 19 rebounds for the Nuggets, who have lost 10 consecutive road games.

Chicago 122, Orlando 106--Horace Grant had 26 points on 12-for-15 shooting and Scottie Pippen had his third triple-double of the season as the Bulls won at Orlando.

Michael Jordan had 23 points and Pippen finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for Chicago.

Nick Anderson led Orlando with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Shaquille O’Neal added 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic, which played without Dennis Scott, who strained a calf muscle in his right leg during practice.

Utah 125, Miami 122--Karl Malone had 30 points and a key block in the final seconds of the second overtime as the Jazz earned its 10th consecutive victory at home.

Malone, who was 18 for 24 at the free throw line and had 16 rebounds, ended the Heat’s last threat when he blocked Rony Seikaly’s hook shot with 41 seconds left and Utah leading by four points.

Tyrone Corbin scored 24 points to lead the Jazz.

Washington 121, Milwaukee 98--Harvey Grant scored 17 points as the Bullets handed the Bucks their fourth consecutive loss at Landover, Md.

Michael Adams had 22 points and Grant finished with 19 as the Bullets bounced back from last Saturday’s 45-point loss at New Jersey.

The Bucks have lost 10 of their last 11 road games.

Boston 121, Cleveland 115--Xavier McDaniel stalled the Cavaliers’ last-gasp rally by sinking a 15-foot jumper with 1:44 to play as the Celtics won their sixth consecutive game at Cleveland.

The Cavaliers, who lost for only the third time in 15 games, were led by Brad Daugherty, who had a season-high 37 points.

Kevin McHale and McDaniel each scored 20 points and Reggie Lewis and Sherman Douglas had 16 apiece for Boston. Price had 28 points and 11 assists for Cleveland.

Indiana 112, Philadelphia 93-- Detlef Schrempf had 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the Pacers ended Philadelphia’s season-best three-game winning streak at Indianapolis.

Reggie Miller also had 20 points and Rik Smits added 18.

New York 104, Sacramento 93--John Starks scored 16 of his career-high 33 points in the second quarter and made two crucial three-pointers late in the game as the Knicks snapped the Kings’ five-game home winning streak.