NBA ROUNDUP : Suns Dominate Trail Blazers

The Phoenix Suns were barely able to beat the Portland Trail Blazers earlier this week, even though they were playing without Kevin Johnson and Charles Barkley.

With Johnson back in the lineup Friday, it wasn’t close as Phoenix beat Portland, 124-111, bolstered by a 17-8 fourth-quarter run. Dan Majerle had a three-point play and a three-pointer during that stretch to carry the Suns at Phoenix.

Danny Manning, who also had a three-point play during the surge, scored 26 points. Majerle finished with 24, and Johnson, back after sitting out four games because of sore ribs and a sprained knee, had 20. Buck Williams had 25 points and 12 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who outrebounded Phoenix, 43-27, but were hurt by 24 turnovers.

Phoenix started Portland’s slide with a 96-93 upset on Tuesday in Oregon. Barkley spent his mandatory fifth game on the bench after being put on the injured list. The Trail Blazers were without Clyde Drexler and Rod Strickland.

Milwaukee 97, Atlanta 93--A big victory in overtime and a big night from No. 1 draft pick Glenn Robinson gave the Bucks a confidence boost against the Hawks in Atlanta.

Lee Mayberry’s off-balance, 12-foot shot broke a tie with 28 seconds left in overtime. Mayberry had 14 points and 10 assists. Robinson, in his first start, led the Bucks with 26 points, including a basket in overtime. Grant Long led the Hawks with 27 points and 10 rebounds, both season highs.

Utah 121, Detroit 96--Jeff Hornacek scored 21 points and the Jazz held the Pistons to 15 of 42 shots in the second half for the victory at Salt Lake City.

Utah, which led by 16 points at halftime and by 25 points by the end of the third quarter, held Grant Hill to four second-half points and Joe Dumars to one free throw. Hill led the Pistons with 16 points and Dumars added 13. Felton Spencer, Karl Malone and Tom Chambers each scored 16 points for the Jazz.

Indiana 94, Seattle 87--Coach Larry Brown was unimpressed with his team’s performance in the first six games of the season. The seventh game may have changed his outlook.

Reggie Miller scored 16 of his 22 points in the first half as the Pacers defeated the SuperSonics at Indianapolis.

“I think in terms of effort, ours was great,” Brown said. “When it really counted in the fourth quarter, our defense was excellent. I was proud of the team and their effort, and I hope they feel the same way.”

The loss dropped the SuperSonics to 0-3 on a four-game road trip.

Boston 115, Miami 111--Dominique Wilkins scored 24 points, including four in the final minute, as the Celtics held off the Heat at Miami.

Wilkins, who scored two points in 11 minutes during the third quarter, had a big fourth quarter with nine points.

Wilkins’ final basket with 16 seconds remaining gave Boston a 114-109 lead after Miami had tied it, 109-109, on a three-point play by Glen Rice.

Orlando 113, New Jersey 103--Nick Anderson scored nine of his 25 points in the final 4:08 as the Magic pulled away from the Nets at Orlando, Fla.

Anderson also had 12 rebounds and six assists, and Anfernee Hardaway led a third-quarter defensive stand that turned the game around while Shaquille O’Neal was on the bench in foul trouble.