NBA ROUNDUP : Raveling Pupil Has Big Night for Heat

If George Raveling needs a lift after retiring as USC’s basketball coach, he might want to check the box score of the Miami Heat’s 115-102 victory over the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday night at Miami.

Former Trojan Harold Miner had one of his best games as a pro, scoring 23 points. He had scored exactly that many, total, in the Heats’ first four games, all losses.

Miner, a third-year pro who is settling into a starting role, said he’s a different player now because he’s no longer reluctant to take an open shot.

“Last season, I was kind of hesitant to take it, because I was looking over my shoulder wondering if I would get yanked if I missed it,” Miner said. “You can’t play ball like that. When you play at this level, you have to play with a high confidence level. If you hesitate, you’re dead.”

Miami’s Kevin Willis scored 24 points, but suffered muscle spasms in his left leg and will miss tonight’s game at Philadelphia.

Denver 112, San Antonio 99--Another former Trojan, Robert Pack, scored a career-high 30 points at Denver to lead the Nuggets to their fourth victory in a row. Pack scored 17 points in the first quarter, helping the Nuggets open up an 18-point lead.

David Robinson had 33 points and 20 rebounds for the Spurs.

Milwaukee 82, Indiana 81--No. 1 draft pick Glenn Robinson had his best night as a pro, scoring 18 points for the Bucks, who survived a second-half collapse to win at Milwaukee.

Houston 105, Sacramento 99--Hakeem Olajuwon scored 28 points, helping the Rockets hold off the Kings at Houston and extend their season-opening winning streak to seven games.

The Kings, who lost for the 23rd time in their last 24 games in The Summit, led, 76-75, going into the fourth quarter.

Cleveland 89, Charlotte 86--Chris Mills hit a desperate three-pointer at the buzzer in regulation to tie the game and the Cavaliers went on to win in overtime at Cleveland.

Alonzo Mourning was guarding Mills as he inbounded the ball from halfcourt with three seconds left in regulation, then followed the ball when he passed it to John Williams. Mills got the ball right back and made the big shot.

Minnesota 114, Golden State 112--Isaiah Rider scored a career-high 35 points to lead the visiting Timberwolves, who broke a 16-game losing streak.

Manute Bol hit three consecutive three-pointers to help the Warriors cut a 17-point deficit to one with 19 seconds left.

Phoenix 96, Portland 93--Danny Manning scored 10 points in the fourth quarter and Elliott Perry four in the final 44 seconds as the injury-depleted Suns came from 15 points down in the second half to ruin the Trail Blazers’ home opener.

New Jersey 112, Seattle 106--Derrick Coleman broke out of a slump by making seven of his first eight shots and scoring 16 of his 25 points in the first quarter to lead the Nets at East Rutherford, N.J.

Orlando 122, Washington 102--Shaquille O’Neal dominated at both ends of the court, getting 29 points and 13 rebounds for the Magic at Orlando, Fla.

Atlanta 110, Boston 94--Stacey Augmon scored 27 points and former Clipper Ken Norman had 19 for the Hawks at Boston.

Former Hawk Dominique Wilkins, guarded by Augmon, had only 16 points on eight-of-20 shooting for the Celtics.

Detroit 99, Philadelphia 98--Joe Dumars scored seven of his 20 points in the final five minutes at Auburn Hill, Mich., and the Pistons won despite missing three of eight free throws in the final three minutes. Rookie Grant Hill led the Pistons with 22 points.

NBA Notes

Forward Larry Krystkowiak is out of the Chicago Bulls lineup for two or three weeks after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. The Bulls already are without center Luc Longley, who will miss at least two months with a stress fracture in his left ankle. . . . No. 1 pick Yinka Dare was placed on the injured list because of tendinitis in his right knee by the Nets, who activated Eric (Sleepy) Floyd.