NBA ROUNDUP : Radja Sparks the Celtics in Return, 114-101

Dino Radja returned to the Boston Celtics’ lineup Monday night after sitting out 15 games because of a broken hand and scored 10 points in the fourth quarter as the Celtics defeated the Washington Bullets, 114-101, at Boston.

The loss was the Bullets’ eighth in a row.

Radja finished with 18 points and Dominique Wilkins had 34, including 24 in the first half. Scott Skiles had 24 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds for the Bullets, and Gheorge Muresan scored 19 points, two short of his career high.

The Celtics led, 100-95, with 5:01 to play when the Bullets were called for illegal defense for the fifth time. Wilkins converted the free throw and Radja made two shots before Dee Brown’s three-point basket completed an 8-0 run and gave the Celtics a 108-97 lead.

Radja had not played since Dec. 6, when he suffered a broken right hand against the New York Knicks. He started slowly but played well in the second half--hurting the team only when he poked teammate Eric Montross in the eye with 4:04 remaining in the third quarter.

Montross did not return.

Utah 106, Dallas 90--Karl Malone scored 32 points and Jeff Hornacek scored 17 of his 21 points in the third quarter to help the Jazz pull away at Salt Lake City.

The Jazz outscored the Mavericks, 31-18, in the third quarter, turning a 51-45 halftime lead into an 82-63 advantage. Dallas got no closer than 10 points in the fourth quarter.

Jamal Mashburn led Dallas with 27 points. Jason Kidd added 17, but the Mavericks dropped below .500 at 14-15.

John Stockton scored 20 points, 18 in the first half, and had 14 assists. Malone had 15 rebounds as Utah won for the 10th time in 12 games.

Phoenix 119, Milwaukee 102--Danny Manning scored three consecutive baskets early in the fourth quarter, helping the Suns hold onto a comfortable lead throughout the final 12 minutes at Phoenix.

The Suns never trailed in their fourth consecutive victory and ninth in a row over the Bucks. It was Milwaukee’s eighth consecutive loss at Phoenix, where the Bucks last won in February 1987.

Manning, who finished with 22 points, made a fadeaway, a 15-foot jumper and a layup during a 10-5 surge that helped the Suns open a 102-85 lead after starting the fourth quarter with a 92-80 advantage.

Wayman Tisdale, another reserve, scored 10 of his 24 points in the final quarter.

Notes

The Sacramento Kings waived third-year forward Trevor Wilson. . . . Seattle SuperSonic guard Kendall Gill has been fined for failing to show up for practice after missing a flight from Chicago, the team announced. In addition to the fine for missing Sunday’s practice, Gill will not start tonight against the Golden State Warriors.