NBA ROUNDUP : Chilly Celtics Lose Fifth in a Row at Home

The Boston Celtics were cold again in the old building where they once were so tough to beat.

The Cleveland Cavaliers weathered the Boston Garden’s frigid conditions and rolled to a 99-85 victory Friday night, ending a nine-game road losing streak.

The Celtics, who lost no more than five home games in three of the last eight seasons, dropped their fifth in a row at Boston Garden--one short of the franchise record set in 1948-49--to a team that had the NBA’s second-worst road record.

The cold didn’t stop Bobby Phills from scoring a career-high 20 points for the Cavaliers. He made 10 of 12 shots in only his eighth start of the season.

“It was so cold in here I couldn’t feel my hands,” he said.

Phoenix 110, Minnesota 103--Danny Ainge made up for injuries to Charles Barkley and Kevin Johnson and Dan Majerle’s one-for-14 shooting by scoring a season-high 34 points, leading the Suns at Minneapolis.

Ainge made four of six three-pointers and scored 10 points in the final 5:33.

Barkley suffered a strained tendon in his right knee when he landed off-balance after an alley-oop pass in the first quarter. He returned in the second quarter, but left with 4:46 to play in the half and did not return.

Johnson sat out his second consecutive game because of a bruised right shin. Neither injury is believed serious.

Chicago 99, Washington 92--Scottie Pippen scored 25 points, including the go-ahead basket with 1:50 to play at Landover, Md., as the Bulls beat the Bullets for the 12th successive time.

Horace Grant had 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Bulls, who outscored Washington, 7-0, in the final two minutes.

Miami 110, Utah 104--Glen Rice scored 13 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter as the Heat won for the first time at Salt Lake City.

Rony Seikaly added 17 points for the Heat. Miami has won three consecutive games and ended a string of seven consecutive losses at Utah.

San Antonio 84, Denver 76--David Robinson and Dale Ellis made key baskets down the stretch as the Spurs held the Nuggets scoreless in the final 3:58 at Denver.

The Spurs, defeating the Nuggets for the seventh consecutive time dating to last season, built a 19-point lead just before halftime, then had to survive a second-half Nugget rally.

Atlanta 100, Portland 85--Dominique Wilkins scored 26 points and Kevin Willis had 19 points and 17 rebounds at Atlanta, leading the Hawks to their fourth consecutive victory.

It was the 20th victory in 23 games for the Hawks, who built double-digit leads with a 15-4 spurt in the first quarter and an 18-4 burst in the third before withstanding a fourth-quarter rally by the Trail Blazers with a 14-3 run in the final 3:17.

Philadelphia 103, Dallas 93--Dana Barros scored 10 of his 26 points during a decisive 13-6 fourth-quarter run at Dallas as the 76ers dealt the Mavericks their 15th consecutive home defeat.

Clarence Weatherspoon had 25 points and 14 rebounds, Jeff Hornacek scored 23 points and rookie Shawn Bradley blocked a career-high nine shots for the 76ers.

Seattle 102, Sacramento 93--Shawn Kemp scored nine of his 19 points in the final four minutes as the SuperSonics held off the Kings at Seattle their 14th victory in 15 home games.

Behind Lionel Simmons’ eight consecutive points, the Kings trailed only 88-85 with 3:53 left.

The SuperSonics answered with a 12-5 run led by Kemp, who capped the spurt with a reverse two-handed dunk for a 100-90 lead with 1:37 remaining.