NBA ROUNDUP : Mavericks Surprise Pistons, Get Third Victory

Interim Coach Garfield Heard had a feeling the Dallas Mavericks wouldn’t lose a club-record 16th consecutive game Tuesday night.

Heard kept those thoughts to himself, however. With a 2-30 record going into the game, predicting a Mavericks victory isn’t particularly wise.

But he had the right instincts as the Mavericks upset the Detroit Pistons 113-103, at Dallas.

“I’m the most excited guy in the whole place,” said Heard, who lost his first three games after taking over for the fired Richie Adubato last week.

Derek Harper had 26 points and 11 assists for the Mavericks, still on a pace to break the NBA record for futility in a season, 9-73 by the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers.

“Every dog has his day,” Harper said.

Dallas’ other two victories also came at home, on Dec. 17 over the Lakers and Nov. 14 over Atlanta.

San Antonio 121, Denver 110-- David Robinson, coming off a 52-point game on Saturday, scored 29 points as the Spurs defeated the Nuggets at San Antonio for their seventh consecutive victory, one shy of the franchise record.

Dale Ellis scored 24 points and Antoine Carr 22 for the Spurs, now 12-2 under Coach John Lucas, who replaced Jerry Tarkanian on Dec. 18.

The Nuggets, 1-18 on the road, were led by Reggie Williams with 30 points and Chris Jackson with 20.

Atlanta 102, Charlotte 100--Jon Koncak made a tip-in at the buzzer to lift the Hawks at Charlotte, N.C.

Koncak missed his first four shots from the field before he tipped in Dominique Wilkins’ desperation three-point shot

Wilkins scored 34 points and Kevin Willis had 19 points and 18 rebounds for the Hawks. Larry Johnson had 32 points and 12 rebounds and Alonzo Mourning scored 19 points for the Hornets, who lost their third consecutive game.

Indiana 116, Washington 96--Reggie Miller scored 12 of his 25 points during the third quarter as the Pacers beat the Bullets at Indianapolis.

Harvey Grant scored 20 points, Pervis Ellison had 19 points and 12 rebounds and reserve forward Larry Stewart finished with 16 points for Washington.

Portland 119, Milwaukee 92--Clyde Drexler scored 21 points and Terry Porter and Cliff Robinson had 20 apiece at Milwaukee as the Trail Blazers handed the Bucks their seventh consecutive defeat.

Todd Day led the Bucks with 16 points. Rod Stickland and Mario Elie added 15 points each for Portland, which beat the Bucks by 29 earlier this season.

Houston 102, Sacramento 96--The Rockets extended their winning streak to six games by beating the Kings at Sacramento.

Hakeem Olajuwon had 27 points and 15 rebounds for Houston. Mitch Richmond had 21 points for Sacramento, which lost rookie forward Walt Williams because of a broken right hand.