NBA ROUNDUP : Cavaliers Not a Second Too Late

Steve Colter tipped in a missed shot with two-tenths of a second left in the second overtime at Denver, lifting the shorthanded Cleveland Cavaliers to a 101-100 victory over the Nuggets.

“We were very fortunate,” Cleveland Coach Mike Fratello said. “Steve was in the right place at the right time.”

Colter, guarded by Denver rookie Jalen Rose, said he didn’t know where Rose was on the basket.

“He probably was trying to block out one of the big guys,” said Colter (16 points), who started his first game of the season because of injuries to Cleveland’s top two point guards, Mark Price (sprained right wrist) and Terrell Brandon (bruised hip and wrist).

Chris Mills scored 20 points for the Cavaliers, who ended a three-game losing streak.

Denver, 0-4 since the resignation of Coach Dan Issel, was led by Dale Ellis with 24 points.

*

Seattle 117, Dallas 91--Gary Payton scored 22 points and Kendall Gill had 19 at Dallas as the SuperSonics parlayed a small lineup into a game-breaking 28-13 third-quarter surge for their ninth consecutive victory.

Seattle Coach George Karl went to the lineup with power forward Shawn Kemp saddled with four first-half fouls.

Jim Jackson had 25 points for Dallas, which played without forward Roy Tarpley, who was reportedly excused by Player Personnel Director Keith Grant after arguing with Grant Friday night.

*

Atlanta 89, Boston 84--Ken Norman scored 29 points and Stacey Augmon 20 as the Hawks pulled away in the final two minutes to beat the Celtics at Atlanta.

The Celtics, losing their fourth in a row, scored only three points in the final 2:48.

Former Hawk Dominique Wilkins led the Celtics with 15 points.

*

Milwaukee 120, Detroit 100--Eric Murdock scored 18 points, including seven in a row during a 15-3 surge that broke open a close game, as the Bucks beat the Pistons in Milwaukee for their fourth consecutive victory.

Vin Baker’s 25 points and 11 rebounds led the Bucks, who outscored Detroit, 36-16, over the final 13:07.

*

NBA Notes

Charlotte Hornet forward Larry Johnson should start today against Minnesota after taking a hard tumble after an inadvertent elbow to the head Friday night against New Jersey, the team said. X-rays were negative.