NBA ROUNDUP : Hornets Surprise Cold Suns

Dell Curry scored 23 points, and Hersey Hawkins’ three-pointer with 2:46 left gave Charlotte the lead for good as the Hornets upset the cold-shooting Phoenix Suns, 95-93, Tuesday night at Phoenix.

The Hornets used outstanding defense to give the Suns only their third home loss in 18 games. Charlotte held Phoenix to five baskets and 15 points in the final quarter.

The Suns were without Charles Barkley--on the injury list with a torn knee tendon--for the second game in a row.

A.C. Green, who made the last Phoenix basket with 4:04 to play, putting the Suns ahead, 92-91, finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Danny Ainge added 17 points.

But Ainge missed a 16-footer in the final seconds, and Muggsy Bogues darted beneath taller players to grab the rebound off the floor.

“We came out and didn’t take anything for granted, and we put them to the test for 48 minutes,” Bogues said.

Portland 108, Seattle 99--Cliff Robinson scored 27 points and Rod Strickland added 22 to lead the Trail Blazers over the SuperSonics at Portland.

Seattle, which had its six-game winning streak ended, trailed by 28 going into the final quarter. The SuperSonics outscored Portland, 39-20, in the final 12 minutes to make the score respectable.

Denver 94, Detroit 86--Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf had 10 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, and the Nuggets beat the Pistons at Auburn Hills, Mich., handing the Pistons their 10th loss in a row.

Denver hadn’t won at Detroit since Jan. 22, 1988, and was only 4-12 on the road this season. But the Nuggets sent the Pistons to their 19th loss in 22 games. Detroit’s losing streak is its worst since a 14-game slide in 1980.

Reggie Williams and LaPhonso Ellis led Denver with 19 points each. Dikembe Mutombo had 15 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks. Joe Dumars had 18 points for Detroit, and Olden Polynice had 15 points and 16 rebounds.

Washington 115, New Jersey 100--Don McLean had 20 points, and the low-scoring Bullets had a season-high 68 points in the first half at East Rutherford, N.J.

The margin of victory matched the Bullets’ second largest of the season, and the win was only their fourth in the last 20 games and 10th in 32 overall. It was also their fourth win in 17 road games this year.

Rex Chapman added 16 points for Washington. Brent Price had 15 and Michael Adams 14. Derrick Coleman led New Jersey with 26. Chris Morris added a season-high 24, most after the game was decided.

Kenny Anderson was limited to one-of-11 shooting and four points, but he handed out 16 assists.

San Antonio 108, Minnesota 98--David Robinson had 27 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists as the Spurs beat Minnesota at San Antonio, the Spurs’ eighth victory in nine games.

Robinson’s triple-double was the 12th of his career and second of the season against the Timberwolves. He had 43 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks against Minnesota on Nov. 9.

Robinson also blocked eight shots.

Indiana 82, Milwaukee 76--Antonio Davis had a career-high 26 points and Reggie Miller added 20 as the Pacers handed the Bucks their third successive home loss.

Davis made one of two free throws with 6:03 left to break a 66-66 tie. Then Derrick McKey made a basket and Miller two more to give the Pacers a 73-66 lead with 2:42 left.

Sacramento 103, Miami 95--Wayman Tisdale scored 23 pints and had 11 rebounds to lead the Kings at Sacramento.

Miami had a 79-76 lead with 6:51 left, but the Kings went on a 27-16 run to end the game and win their fourth in a row.

Sacramento’s Walt Williams and Lionel Simmons added 18 points each. Steve Smith scored 26 points to lead Miami.