NBA ROUNDUP : Nets Hang On to End Road Drought

The New Jersey Nets got an unexpected victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night at New York when the Knicks’ improbable comeback fell short.

The Nets took an eight-game road losing streak and a 2-9 road record into the game, while the Knicks had won six in a row at Madison Square Garden.

But Derrick Coleman and Kenny Anderson scored nine points during a late 10-0 run that boosted New Jersey to a 97-95 victory despite nearly blowing a four-point edge in the last 11 seconds.

“We needed a road win and we were struggling to win one,” Net Coach Chuck Daly said. “All of a sudden we got it.

“The fact that it was New Jersey against New York puts a little extra frosting on the cake.”

The Knicks, trailing with 11 seconds to play, 96-92, nearly pulled off a wild comeback. But Patrick Ewing, on the free-throw line with the score 97-95 and 0.2 seconds remaining, was off the mark on his first attempt before missing his second try intentionally.

Coleman, who had 30 points and 13 rebounds, tried to rattle Ewing before he took the free throws.

“There are all kinds of mind games out there,” Coleman said. “He’s from Georgetown, I’m from Syracuse and I just had to break his concentration.”

Ewing scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter after sitting on the bench for much of the first three quarters because of foul trouble.

Seattle 112, Houston 97--Gary Payton and Ricky Pierce each scored 25 points at Seattle to help the SuperSonics move ahead of the Rockets for the highest winning percentage in the NBA with a record of 21-3.

Houston (23-4) lost for the third time in four games. Seattle, which lost at Houston on Dec. 11, has a winning percentage of .875, while Houston slipped to .852.

The SuperSonics led by 30 points three times in the second quarter, but the Rockets battled back to get to within 84-81 with 10:26 to play before Seattle went on an 11-0 run.

Hakeem Olajuwon scored 34 points and Otis Thorpe 22 for the Rockets.

Denver 97, Dallas 85--Bryant Stith scored 21 points and made all 15 of his free throws to lead the Nuggets at Dallas.

The Mavericks (2-24) extended the worst home start in NBA history to 13 consecutive losses.

Cleveland 127, Charlotte 115--Gerald Wilkins scored 29 points, including a key three-point basket in overtime, at Richfield, Ohio, to lead the Cavaliers to their fifth consecutive victory.

The Hornets were without Larry Johnson, who was sidelined because of a strained back, and lost Alonzo Mourning to fouls in the fourth quarter.

Atlanta 119, Detroit 101--Mookie Blaylock scored 19 points and Duane Ferrell, playing in place of the injured Dominique Wilkins, scored 18 to lead the Hawks at Atlanta.

San Antonio 84, Miami 76--Sleepy Floyd scored 15 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Spurs at Miami.

Philadelphia 107, Golden State 90--Clarence Weatherspoon scored 22 points for the 76ers and the Warriors missed 18 of their first 21 shots at Oakland.