NBA ROUNDUP : Payton, Kemp Show Why They Are All-Stars

Seattle’s two NBA All-Stars, one named only a few hours before the game, made sure the SuperSonics would enter the break with the league’s best record.

Gary Payton, named to the Western Conference team on Wednesday to replace injured Charles Barkley, scored 19 points and had nine assists in three quarters to lead the SuperSonics to a 115-94 victory over Portland at Seattle.

Shawn Kemp, the SuperSonics’ other All-Star, pulled down a season-high 19 rebounds and added 15 points as Seattle won its fourth in a row to improve its record to 35-10 in its final start before Sunday’s All-Star game.

Kemp said he was delighted that Payton is going to Minneapolis with him.

“It’s well deserved with the year he’s had,” Kemp said. “It can’t get any better than having your coach (George Karl) and your point guard with you at the All-Star game.”

Phoenix 111, Minnesota 106--Cedric Ceballos and Kevin Johnson each scored 24 points for the Suns at Phoenix. The Suns are 18-0 against the Timberwolves.

The Suns’ Oliver Miller recorded his first triple-double: 14 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists.

New Jersey 106, Cleveland 95--Kenny Anderson scored 24 points and the Nets took advantage of Cleveland’s front-line absentees at East Rutherford, N.J.

New Jersey snapped a two-game losing streak, while the Cavaliers struggled without center Brad Daugherty (flu) and forward Larry Nance (sore knee).

Detroit 102, Boston 95--Isiah Thomas scored 28 points--19 of them in an otherwise cold-shooting first half--as the Pistons broke a three-game losing streak and won at Boston.

New York 114, Philadelphia 79--Patrick Ewing had 18 points and 11 rebounds and Charles Oakley had 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks at Philadelphia.

Golden State 126, Charlotte 116--Latrell Sprewell scored a season-high 34 points to lead five players in double figures as the Warriors won at Charlotte, dealing the Hornets their eighth consecutive loss.

The Hornets got a team record-tying 41 points from Hersey Hawkins.

Orlando 104, Atlanta 87--Shaquille O’Neal scored 37 points and Dennis Scott had 24 for the Magic at Orlando.

Indiana 102, Miami 98--Reserve forward Ken Williams scored a career-high 25 points and Derrick McKey had a season-high 30 to lift the Pacers at Miami.

The loss was the 700th of Kevin Loughery’s 19-year coaching career.