NBA ROUNDUP : Mourning, Hornets Defeat O’Neal, Magic

After dueling with fellow rookie center Shaquille O’Neal for the first time this season, Charlotte’s Alonzo Mourning did not want to talk about any personal matchups.

Mourning wanted only to discuss the Hornets’ 116-107 victory over the Orlando Magic on Thursday night at Charlotte.

“I’m not into that,” said Mourning, who scored 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds against O’Neal. “I could have scored five points this evening. As long as we won the ballgame, that’s what I’m happy about. I’m not really concerned about the individual matchups.

“I’m worried about trying to contribute to this team, and trying to help us win ballgames so we can get to the playoffs. It’s all about winning championships. It’s not all about individual stats.”

O’Neal finished with 29 points and 15 rebounds.

Mourning, the second player chosen in last spring’s NBA draft behind O’Neal, got the Charlotte Coliseum crowd rocking with several dunks in the second half. Those baskets, as well as a 12-2 fourth-quarter run, helped the Hornets win for the fifth time in six games.

San Antonio 105, Washington 95--Avery Johnson scored a career-high 23 points and the Spurs held the Bullets to 11 points in the second quarter to win their sixth consecutive game and 13th in a row at San Antonio.

The Spurs are 21-3 under Coach John Lucas and 16-1 since Johnson took over at point guard on Jan. 7. The Bullets were led by Pervis Ellison with 25 points and 19 by Michael Adams.

New York 125, Houston 95--Patrick Ewing scored 24 points and got plenty of help from his teammates as he battled fellow All-Star Hakeem Olajuwon to a standoff in the Knicks’ victory at New York.

Ewing made 11 of 15 shots and grabbed nine rebounds, and Olajuwon had 21 points and 11 rebounds. The Knicks won their sixth game in a row and 10th in their last 11 games.

John Starks finished with 23 points and Tony Campbell and Anthony Mason each had 15 as the Knicks had six players in double figures.

Phoenix 122, Golden State 100--Danny Ainge made seven three-point baskets and finished with a season-high 33 points at Phoenix, and the Suns handed the Warriors their eighth consecutive loss.

Ainge, one of three Suns to score at least 20 points, was seven for 12 from three-point range, and Charles Barkley finished with 26 points, 19 rebounds and seven assists. Dan Majerle added 20 points for the Suns, who won their fifth consecutive game.

Sarunas Marciulionis scored 24 points for the Warriors.

Utah 101, Seattle 96--John Stockton scored 23 points and Jay Humphries had a season-high 20 as the Jazz defeated the SuperSonics at Seattle.

The Jazz improved its record to 19-2 in games in which it has held opponents to fewer than 100 points. Seattle lost its seventh game in 10 starts and its second in a row at home after a 19-2 start.

Utah’s Karl Malone had 15 points and 12 rebounds. Ricky Pierce and Gary Payton each scored 21 points and Shawn Kemp had 16 rebounds for the SuperSonics.

Sacramento 116, Atlanta 105--Mitch Richmond scored 24 points and Rod Higgins scored 13 of his 16 points during the fourth quarter at Sacramento, as the Kings ended a six-game losing streak.

Atlanta was led by Kevin Willis’ 25 points and 19 rebounds and Dominique Wilkins’ 24 points.