NBA ROUNDUP : SuperSonics Get Record Victory

The Seattle SuperSonics’ franchise-record 57th victory meant something extra because it came against the team that kept them out of the NBA finals last season.

Getting a season-high 29 points from Kendall Gill, the SuperSonics clinched the Pacific Division title by rallying to beat the Suns, 111-108, on Sunday at Seattle.

The SuperSonics overcame a 17-point deficit in the final quarter to win for the 11th time in 12 games. Clinching the division for only the second time in history, the SuperSonics came back after trailing, 92-75, early in the fourth quarter.

“It’s a great win for us,” Seattle Coach George Karl said. “I think we’re snowballing some spirit into the playoffs.”

Beating the Suns for the third time in four games this season, the SuperSonics (57-18) broke their club record for victories set in 1979-80.

Charles Barkley had 23 points and 14 rebounds, Cedric Ceballos 21 points and Dan Majerle 20 for Phoenix. Shawn Kemp added 21 points and 15 rebounds for the SuperSonics, who also got 18 points from Gary Payton.

Houston 93, Denver 92--Hakeem Olajuwon scored 31 points, including a 12-foot baseline jumper with five seconds remaining at Denver.

Olajuwon helped the Rockets erase a 17-point deficit midway through the third quarter, scoring 21 of his team’s final 44 points.

The loss left Denver four games ahead of the Lakers in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

New Jersey 107, New York 88--Kenny Anderson scored 12 of his 16 points in the first quarter as the Nets grabbed a big early lead at East Rutherford, N.J.

The victory was the Nets’ fourth in five games with the Knicks, notable because the two teams might be paired in the opening round of the playoffs.

The Knicks (52-22) missed a chance at clinching the Atlantic Division title. The Nets (40-35) took a major step toward nailing down a playoff spot with the victory, which moved them into a tie with Miami for the sixth-best record in the Eastern Conference.

New Jersey shot 54% against the defensive-minded Knicks in leading from almost start to finish.

Anderson added 10 assists, while Derrick Coleman led New Jersey with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Patrick Ewing had 28 points and 13 rebounds.

Boston 116, Detroit 111--Dino Radja had 25 points and 10 rebounds, and Xavier McDaniel scored 13 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Lindsey Hunter scored 22 points for Detroit, while Mills and Cadillac Anderson had 21 each.