NBA ROUNDUP : Pulling for Hurley, Kings Lose to Bucks

Eric Murdock scored 10 of his career-high 32 points in the fourth quarter Wednesday night to help the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Sacramento Kings, 96-95, at Sacramento, spoiling the Kings’ effort to win for injured guard Bobby Hurley.

The Kings, who have lost their last six games and 10 of 11, had two shots to go ahead in the final seconds, but jumpers by Mitch Richmond and Wayman Tisdale were errant.

The loss came in Sacramento’s first game since Hurley was critically injured in a car crash after Sunday’s loss to the Clippers.

Before the game, the Kings honored Hurley, who is still listed in serious but stable condition, with a special video presentation, including a message from Hurley’s father, thanking fans for their support.

Hundreds of fans wearing Hurley’s uniform No. 7 on their shirts, arm bands and ties signed an eight-by-12-foot get-well card for the rookie from Duke.

Hurley, a two-time All-American at Duke and the Kings’ No. 1 draft pick, was in serious but improving condition following an accident that left him with punctured lungs, broken ribs and multiple fractures.

He is in the intensive care unit of the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. His parents are to hold a news conference today.

“Everybody is pulling for him,” King forward Evers Burns said before the game. “The thing now is that everybody has to stay focused, everybody has to keep his head and do the job.”

Mike Peplowski, the first team member at the site of the accident, said he was shaken by the crash, but “in a very perverse sort of way . . . it makes you feel more alive.”

As the Kings and Bucks took the floor, a video of Hurley’s career highlights played on Arco Arena’s monitors, along with a taped message from Hurley’s father, Bob, thanking friends for their support.

The auditorium’s lights played on the crowd, and the No. 7 glistened in reflective tape, sequins, plastic cards, flashlights, even crayon drawings.

Chicago 108, Boston 98--Horace Grant scored a career-high 31 points at Boston as the Bulls won for the seventh time in eight games.

B.J. Armstrong added 22 points and 10 assists and Scottie Pippen scored 14 points for the Bulls, who are 6-1 since Pippen returned from the injured list.

San Antonio 111, Portland 91--David Robinson scored 37 points at San Antonio to lead the Spurs.

Robinson, who is averaging 28.1 points, also had 15 rebounds.

Clifford Robinson scored 18 points for the Trail Blazers.

Utah 97, Minnesota 95--Karl Malone scored eight of his 31 points in a 20-4 fourth-quarter run at Minneapolis that enabled the Jazz to end a three-game road losing streak.

The Jazz rebounded from a slow fourth-quarter start behind Malone, who scored 19 points in the second half.

The Jazz, held without a point in the first 3:16 of the fourth quarter, scored 20 of the next 24 points to take a 96-86 lead, their biggest of the game, with 5:33 to play.

Philadelphia 101, Denver 93--Jeff Hornacek scored 25 points to lead the 76ers at Philadelphia.

Clarence Weatherspoon had 22 points and Moses Malone 12 points and 15 rebounds for Philadelphia, while Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf had 23 points for the Nuggets.

Phoenix 110, Golden State 104--Charles Barkley had 33 points and 10 rebounds at Phoenix to lead the Suns to their seventh consecutive victory.