NBA ROUNDUP : Drexler Too Strong for Nets

The Portland Trail Blazers earned their 11th consecutive playoff berth the old-fashioned way Sunday, going to Clyde Drexler with the game on the line against the New Jersey Nets.

Drexler scored 25 of his season-high 34 points in the second half and made five free throws in the final 26 seconds, leading Portland to a 109-105 victory over the Nets.

“Those are the situations you live for,” said Drexler, who made eight of 10 shots after intermission. “You hope you can be in there and contribute. Everyone knows that the last five minutes you have to be ready to play. That’s when most games are won and lost in this league.”

Drexler was the reason the Trail Blazers were able to rally from a 10-point halftime deficit to win. He scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, including two go-ahead free throws with 26 seconds to play.

Phoenix 108, Denver 98--Kevin Johnson scored a career-high 42 points at Phoenix as the Suns tightened the Western Conference playoff race.

The Suns, who have beaten the Nuggets 11 consecutive times at Phoenix, extended their winning streak to five games. The Nuggets, whose lead over the Lakers was cut to 3 1/2 games in the race for the conference’s final playoff berth, dropped their third in a row.

Johnson made 14 of 25 shots and 14 of 16 free throws and also matched a season high with 17 assists for Phoenix.

Boston 135, Philadelphia 112--Sherman Douglas scored a season-high 27 points and had a career-high 22 assists at Philadelphia.

It was the 10th consecutive defeat and the 25th loss in 26 games for the 76ers, who also have dropped 11 consecutive games at home--a franchise record. The team lost 10 in a row at home in 1971-72.

Dino Radja added 25 points for the Celtics, who posted their highest point total of the season. Their previous high was 129 points against Sacramento on Dec. 8.

Chicago 96, Detroit 93--Scottie Pippen had 26 points, nine rebounds and nine assists as the Bulls held off a late Detroit rally at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Chicago, which led by four points at halftime, made 55% of its shots in the third quarter and built its lead to 70-55 with 4:26 to play in the quarter.

Horace Grant and B.J. Armstrong each scored 16 points for the Bulls.

Armstrong made four free throws in the last eight seconds.