NBA ROUNDUP : Wilkens’ 938th Ties Auerbach

Lenny Wilkens matched Red Auerbach’s record for NBA coaching victories at 938 Thursday night as the Atlanta Hawks rallied to beat the San Antonio Spurs, 127-121, in overtime at Atlanta.

Ken Norman, who led the Hawks with 32 points, lifted Wilkens off the floor with a bear hug as players and assistant coaches congratulated the coach as the game ended.

Wilkens, 57, gets a chance to take sole possession of the record tonight in Cleveland, where he spent seven seasons as coach before taking over at Atlanta last season.

“I’m really happy it’s over, believe me,” Wilkens said.

In 22 seasons, Wilkens’ record is 938-790. Auerbach was 938-479 in 20 seasons, 16 of those in Boston.

San Antonio’s seven-game winning streak ended despite 30 points from David Robinson.

In overtime, baskets by Mookie Blaylock, Jon Koncak and Tyrone Corbin gave the Hawks a 114-108 lead they never lost.

*

Charlotte 125, Orlando 123--Playing without injured Alonzo Mourning, the Hornets made a club-record 14 three-point baskets at Charlotte, N.C.

Dell Curry, who sank six three-pointers, led Charlotte with 28 points and Scott Burrell finished with a career-high 25.

Shaquille O’Neal had a game-high 30 points for Orlando, which had its five-game winning streak snapped.

*

Houston 126, Golden State 124--Vernon Maxwell’s desperation three-pointer with 1.9 seconds remaining lifted the Rockets at Houston.

Hakeem Olajuwon had 42 points and eight rebounds as Houston held off a furious fourth-quarter rally by Golden State.

Tim Hardaway made a jumper with three seconds left to give the Warriors a 124-123 lead. Houston tried to get the ball to Olajuwon on the ensuing inbounds play but failed and the ball bounced off the backboard toward the out-of-bounds line.

Maxwell, who finished with 15 points, grabbed the bounding ball and threw it in for the winning basket.

*

Portland 104, Denver 93--Cliff Robinson scored 27 points at Portland as the Trail Blazers scored their eighth consecutive victory over the Nuggets.

*

NBA Notes

Kenny Anderson of the New Jersey Nets was fined an undisclosed amount for missing Wednesday’s practice and his status for tonight’s game against Indiana was uncertain. Unknown personal problems, not a benching in a blowout loss the previous night, caused the all-star guard to skip practice, Anderson said. . . . Detroit’s Oliver Miller will undergo surgery today for his broken right hand. He will have a pin inserted and will be sidelined four to five weeks.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

ALL-TIME COACHING VICTORIES Coach: Record

*

1. x-Lenny Wilkens 938-790

Red Auerbach 938-479

3. x-Dick Motta 868-875

4. Jack Ramsay 864-783

5. x-Bill Fitch 849-901

6. x-Don Nelson 812-585

7. Cotton Fitzsimmons 805-745

8. Gene Shue 784-861

9. x-Pat Riley 715-284

10. John MacLeod 707-657

*

x-active