NBA ROUNDUP : Mavericks’ Losing Streak Ends at 20 Games

The Dallas Mavericks went to the Mayo Clinic of NBA arenas to cure their ills, ending their 20-game losing streak with a 93-89 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night at Minneapolis.

The Mavericks used Target Center, the site of their only other victory this season, to avoid breaking the single-season record they share with the Philadelphia 76ers, who lost 20 consecutive games in the 1972-73 season.

The all-time record for consecutive losses, 24, was set over two seasons by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1981-82 and 1982-83.

Jim Jackson scored 28 points and Sean Rooks added a career-high 26 for the Mavericks.

“If we could play and work hard and play Minnesota every night, we’d get a lot of victories,” a laughing Jamal Mashburn said after the Mavericks, who also won at the Target Center on Nov. 12, improved to 2-23. “But we can’t play them every night.”

Micheal Williams, who played all but 4.5 seconds because of a heel injury to backup point guard Chris Smith, scored a career-high 33 points for the Timberwolves.

Phoenix 87, Seattle 86--Dan Majerle’s three-point basket with seven seconds to play at Seattle lifted the Suns, who handed the SuperSonics (20-3) their first home loss of the season.

Charles Barkley had 18 points and 18 rebounds for the Suns, who limited Seattle to a club record-low 27 points in the second half.

Portland 108, Indiana 96--Rod Strickland, starting in place of injured guard Clyde Drexler, scored 22 points and rookie guard James Robinson scored a season-high 19 at Portland to help the Trail Blazers to their fourth consecutive victory.

Cleveland 107, Milwaukee 88--Gerald Wilkins scored 20 points to lead the Cavaliers at Richfield, Ohio.

Utah 96, San Antonio 88--Karl Malone scored 26 points and John Stockton surpassed 10,000 points to lead the Jazz in front of 33,251 at San Antonio.

Center David Robinson led the Spurs with 27 points.

Charlotte 118, Boston 100--Dell Curry led the Hornets by scoring 12 of his 20 points in the final quarter, including six during a decisive 12-0 run, at Charlotte.

Charlotte’s Alonzo Mourning had 30 points and 18 rebounds.

Orlando 122, New Jersey 112--Rookie Anfernee Hardaway scored a season-high 31 points to back a 34-point, 15-rebound performance by Shaquille O’Neal that carried the Magic at Orlando.

Chicago 81, Detroit 72--Scottie Pippen had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists at Auburn Hills, Mich., to lead the Bulls to their eighth consecutive victory and their 12th in 13 games.

Detroit, which got 21 points from rookie guard Lindsey Hunter, has lost 12 of 15.

New York 84, Atlanta 75--Patrick Ewing scored 16 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter to help the Knicks survive an eight-point third quarter in a battle of division leaders at New York.

Sacramento 114, Washington 88--Mitch Richmond scored 22 points at Sacramento to help the Kings end an eight-game home losing streak.