NBA ROUNDUP : Pistons End Losing Streak

The Detroit Pistons finally faced a team that’s playing even worse than they are.

The shooting of Joe Dumars and Terry Mills helped Detroit end its 14-game losing streak Friday night at Miami, beating the Heat, 118-98.

The Heat lost its seventh in a row.

“Thank goodness,” Dumars said. “We needed that win as bad as I’ve ever needed a win since I’ve been here.”

Dumars scored 35 points and Mills 34, season highs for both. Mills made 14 of 17 shots and Dumars made 14 of 22, including four three-pointers.

A loss would have broken the Pistons’ record for the longest losing streak in a single season, set in 1979-80.

“When you’re in a losing streak like we were, the pressure gets tougher and tighter,” Detroit Coach Don Chaney said. “It’s hard to function. The only way out of it is to get a win.”

Orlando 106, New York 103--Shaquille O’Neal scored 37 points and altered a potential game-winning shot by Patrick Ewing with 16 seconds to play at Orlando.

Ewing, who had 36 points, missed a 15-footer under pressure from O’Neal that could have given New York the lead before the Magic’s Nick Anderson made two free throws with 9.7 seconds remaining.

Seattle 91, Dallas 87--Sam Perkins scored eight points during an 18-2 run in the third quarter at Dallas as the SuperSonics overcame a sluggish start to extend the Mavericks’ NBA-record home-court losing streak to 19 games.

The SuperSonics rallied from a 14-point third-quarter deficit, then held off a fourth-quarter charge by the Mavericks to win for the 10th time in 12 games.

Chicago 96, Indiana 95--Toni Kukoc banked in a three-pointer at the buzzer at Chicago as the Bulls got their 16th consecutive home-court victory.

Reggie Miller’s jumper with 0.8 seconds left gave the Pacers a 95-93 lead before Pippen lofted a cross-court pass to Kukoc, who made the shot over Derrick McKey.

Milwaukee 113, Charlotte 110--Milwaukee got 20 points each from Vin Baker, Eric Murdock and Frank Brickowski, and the Bucks overcame an 18-point deficit at Milwaukee.

With 3.3 seconds to play, Eddie Johnson, who led all scorers with 29 points for the Hornets, inbounded to Dell Curry, who missed a desperation three-pointer that would have sent the game into overtime. It was the first loss to a sub-.500 team for Charlotte this season.

Boston 124, Golden State 116--The Celtics won a season-high fourth consecutive game at Boston after losing 13 of their previous 15.

The Celtics, who ended a team-record seven-game home losing streak Sunday night against Denver, turned a 61-50 halftime lead into a 73-52 lead as Dino Radja and Dee Brown had six points each in a 12-0 run.

New Jersey 113, Atlanta 111--Kenny Anderson’s 12-foot basket with 1.3 seconds to play in overtime lifted the Nets at Atlanta.

It was only the third home loss of the season for the Hawks, but their second in a row.

Utah 112, Sacramento 83--Jeff Malone made seven of his nine shots in the decisive third period, sparking the Jazz at Salt Lake City.

The Jazz put the game away with a 24-7 run in the third quarter. Jeff Malone had 12 points in that stretch and 16 in the period.