NBA ROUNDUP : Rodman Decides Game and Gets 22 Rebounds

David Robinson’s dramatic dunk kept the San Antonio Spurs in the game. Dennis Rodman’s rare free throw won it.

The Robinson-Rodman duo combined for crucial points in the final minute Saturday night at San Antonio as the Spurs won their seventh in a row by edging the Sacramento Kings, 97-96, for the second time in a week.

“It wasn’t the prettiest game in the world, but it was a win. I was just proud of us fighting back down the stretch,” said Robinson, who had 34 points and seven rebounds.

The Spurs took a 94-93 lead on a basket by Robinson with two minutes remaining, but Mitch Richmond made a three-pointer--his first points of the fourth quarter--to give the Kings a 96-94 advantage.

Robinson followed with a dunk with 49 seconds remaining to tie it. A foul by Olden Polynice sent Rodman, a 54% foul shooter who also grabbed 22 rebounds, to the line, where he made one of two free throws with 35 seconds left.

A traveling violation by Richmond with 29 seconds left gave the Spurs possession, and they ran out the clock.

Alaa Abdelnaby led the Kings with 24 points.

Dallas 119, Utah 98--Jim Jackson and Jamal Mashburn went on a third-quarter tear, scoring 15 and 12 points respectively, and the Mavericks ended a 17-game losing streak to the Jazz and a seven-game skid at home.

Dallas hadn’t defeated the Jazz since Nov. 23, 1991. Utah lost its second in a row on the road after a 15-game winning streak and played the second half without Coach Jerry Sloan, ejected in the second quarter for arguing with officials.

Jackson finished with 30 points and Mashburn added 25 for the Mavericks. Jason Kidd had 16 points and nine assists.

Jazz forward Karl Malone had 22 points and 10 rebounds.

Cleveland 82, Indiana 73--John Williams scored 19 points and Bobby Phills made a short jumper to end a dry spell in the fourth quarter as the Cavaliers held off the Pacers at Cleveland.

The Cavaliers--going scoreless for five minutes in the final quarter--ended a four-game losing streak, their worst of the season, and Indiana’s three-game winning streak.

Reggie Miller led Indiana with 19 points.

Philadelphia 102, Milwaukee 86--Dana Barros scored 31 points, including 12 in the final period, as the 76ers held off a furious fourth-quarter charge to beat the Bucks at Milwaukee.

Barros made a breakaway basket, a momentum-killing three-pointer and seven of eight free throws in the fourth quarter after the 76ers had blown most of their 22-point lead.

Glenn Robinson scored 22 points for Milwaukee. Vin Baker had 16 points and 18 rebounds.

Boston 92, New Jersey 78--Dee Brown tied Larry Bird’s team record with seven three-pointers and scored a season-high 31 points to lead the Celtics to only their second victory in nine games while winning at East Rutherford, N.J.

Chris Morris had 20 points for the Nets, who played without Derrick Coleman (chip fracture of his pelvic bone) and Kenny Anderson (inflamed tendon in left arm).

Detroit 84, Atlanta 78--Grant Hill scored 22 points and Terry Mills added 18 points and 17 rebounds in the Pistons’ victory over the Hawks at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Atlanta was led by Mookie Blaylock’s 16 points.