NBA ROUNDUP : Miller Leads Pacers After All-Star Snub

Reggie Miller, whose scoring was not enough to earn him a spot on the All-Star team, showed that he can do more than put the ball in the basket.

Miller had nine assists and five steals, along with 25 points, as the Indiana Pacers beat the Washington Bullets, 116-96, Tuesday night at Indianapolis.

Miller leads Eastern Conference guards in scoring, averaging 21.5 points per game. Still, he was left off the All-Star team in selections by fans and coaches.

“Everyone just knows me for my scoring but there are other things I can do out there on the floor,” Miller said. “I look to try to pass first, try to get everyone in it, and at the same time try to get the looks here or there for me.”

Miller took over in the second quarter, when the Pacers expanded the lead to as many as 18. He scored 10 of his 16 first-half points as he dueled with Bullets rookie Calbert Cheaney, who finished with 22.

New Jersey 104, Seattle 103--Rookie P.J. Brown made two free throws with 19 seconds left and the SuperSonics botched a final shot to give the Nets a victory at East Rutherford, N.J.

The SuperSonics, who have lost five of their last six games, lost their chance to win in the final seconds when Ricky Pierce bounced the ball off his foot near the top of the circle and had to throw up a hook shot from halfcourt that missed badly.

Kenny Anderson led New Jersey with 26 points. Kevin Edwards added 19 and Derrick Coleman had 17 points, 14 rebounds and a career-high nine blocks. Shawn Kemp had 26 points for Seattle and Gary Payton added 23.

New York 114, Boston 79--Patrick Ewing scored 23 points to lead the Knicks to an easy victory at New York and snap the Celtics’ season-high, seven-game winning streak.

New York, which has won five consecutive games, had seven players score in double figures and held Boston to just 56 points after three quarters.

Charles Smith scored 14 points, Greg Anthony and Rolando Blackman had 13, and John Starks, Derek Harper and Anthony Mason each added 12 for New York. Kevin Gamble led Boston with 13.

Miami 88, Milwaukee 82--Steve Smith sparked the Heat to its franchise-record 11th road victory of the season by scoring nine of his 19 points in the fourth quarter to lead Miami over the Bucks.

Smith, who made a 68-foot shot at the first-period buzzer, scored seven consecutive points to give Miami an 84-78 lead late in the fourth quarter.

The Heat played without guard Harold Miner, who missed the game due to an injured back and right knee. Glen Rice led Miami with 23 points. Blue Edwards’ 18 points led the Bucks, who have lost four in a row.

Chicago 118, Denver 98--Scottie Pippen scored 28 points and Horace Grant and B.J. Armstrong had 19 each to lead the Bulls over the Nuggets at Denver.

The Bulls, who have won nine of their last 10 games and 26 out of their last 31, shot 59% and had only six turnovers, compared to Denver’s 18.

Rookie Rodney Rogers came off the bench to lead Denver with 18 points.

Utah 104, Houston 88--Karl Malone scored 29 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, and the Jazz held the Rockets scoreless for nearly the final five minutes at Salt Lake City.

Mario Elie’s basket brought the Rockets within 92-88 with 4:56 remaining, but they did not score again. Utah beat Houston for the first time in three tries this season and broke a six-game losing streak to the Rockets.

John Stockton added 26 points and 13 assists for Utah. Hakeem Olajuwon led Houston with 23 points, but did not score in the final eight minutes.

Sacramento 102, Portland 97--Wayman Tisdale scored 30 points and Mitch Richmond 21 as the Kings surprised the Trail Blazers at Sacramento.

The Kings broke a seven-game losing streak and rebounded from an embarrassing loss at Dallas on Saturday when the Mavericks ended a league record 19-game home losing streak.

Portland, playing without suspended All-Star Clyde Drexler, shot just 37% in losing to the Kings, who are last in the Pacific Division.

Drexler was suspended without pay for one game Tuesday and fined $2,500 by the NBA for bumping an official Sunday in a game against New York.