NBA ROUNDUP : SuperSonics Have Had Enough of Denver

The Seattle SuperSonics, with the NBA’s best record, found out in five minutes Thursday night what that means in the playoffs.

Not much, at least in Denver.

The Nuggets got six points each from Bryant Stith and LaPhonso Ellis in overtime and it was enough to defeat Seattle, 94-85, to square their first-round playoff series, 2-2. Denver has won all four home games against Seattle this season, including two in the playoffs, but Game 5 is scheduled for Saturday at Seattle.

The SuperSonics had the best home record in the NBA and have won 14 in a row at Seattle.

“We didn’t give up when things didn’t go our way,” Denver Coach Dan Issel said, acknowledging the Nuggets were behind, 0-2, after the first two games of the series. “We’re not conceding anything. I’ve told the guys since the first game that if we can get this to a fifth game, anything can happen.”

Ellis had 27 points and 17 rebounds, Stith finished with 15 points and Dikembe Mutombo added 10 points and 16 rebounds for the Nuggets, who outscored the SuperSonics, 12-3, in overtime after Robert Pack pulled the Nuggets even by making a three-point basket with 27 seconds to play in regulation.

Stith swung the momentum in overtime. His dunk after taking a pass from Mutombo put Denver ahead, 86-83, with 2:39 to play, and Stith made two subsequent strong moves to the basket, drawing fouls both times and making all four free throws.

Stith’s final two free throws gave the Nuggets a 90-83 lead with 1:07 remaining.

Seattle was led by Detlef Schrempf and Gary Payton with 20 points each. Shawn Kemp had 16 points, 13 rebounds and some criticism of the SuperSonics.

“You can make all the excuses in the world, but the team that works the hardest usually wins,” Kemp said. “We just threw the game away. Game 5 is what it’s all about and it will be on our home court. This will be a bigger game than Game 7 in the conference finals last year.”

Atlanta 103, Miami 89--The Hawks joined Seattle as teams who could clinch their opening-round series at home when Mookie Blaylock shook a shooting slump and scored a season-high 29 points.

The Heat, bidding to become the first eighth-seeded team to eliminate a regular-season conference champion, shot 37%.

Game 5 will be Sunday at Atlanta, with the winner advancing to play the Indiana Pacers.

Blaylock, nine for 41 in the first three games of the series, made seven for 13 shots and made six three-pointers.

“We weren’t worried about Mookie,” said Atlanta’s Danny Manning, who scored 26 points. “He had been struggling, but no one lost confidence. When he was open, we didn’t say that he wasn’t hitting. We said, ‘Give him the ball.’ ”

Reserve guard Bimbo Coles led the Heat with 18 points.

Utah 95, San Antonio 90--Karl Malone scored 34 points and made a 20-foot jump shot with 42 seconds to play to help the Jazz hold off a late San Antonio rally at Salt Lake City, eliminating the Spurs from the playoffs.

The Spurs trailed, 91-84, before Dale Ellis scored and missed a free throw that Dennis Rodman tipped in, making the score 91-88. Malone then made his key jump shot to rebuild the Jazz lead to five.

David Robinson came back with a spinning jump shot, pulling the Spurs to 93-90, and they got the ball back with 12 seconds remaining. But David Benoit grabbed a loose ball and dunked just before time ran out.

In winning the best-of-five series, 3-1, Utah beat San Antonio in Salt Lake City for the 21st time in 22 games and for the seventh time in eight games this season.

Malone also had 12 rebounds and John Stockton had 18 assists.