NBA ROUNDUP : Nelson Comes Home a Winner With Knicks

Derek Harper had all 22 of his points in the second half and New York Knick Coach Don Nelson made a victorious return to Oakland with a 120-97 victory Thursday night over the Golden State Warriors.

Patrick Ewing added 20 points and John Starks 18 for New York, which led by as many as 12 in the third quarter and began the final quarter with an 87-78 lead. The Warriors got no closer.

Nelson, who coached the Warriors for seven years before quitting midway through last season, was greeted with a mixture of boos and cheers. Several fans held an orange “We Love You Nellie” sign featuring a blue Statue of Liberty.

Latrell Sprewell had 19 points for Golden State.

Orlando 89, Indiana 80--Anfernee Hardaway scored 30 points and Dennis Scott 21 as the Magic continued to win without Shaquille O’Neal, beating the depleted Pacers at Orlando, Fla., for their sixth consecutive victory.

The Pacers were without three starters--Reggie Miller, Dale Davis and Mark Jackson--suspended for their roles in a brawl last week with Sacramento.

Eddie Johnson and Ricky Pierce scored 18 points apiece for Indiana.

Houston 115, Milwaukee 87--Robert Horry made up for Clyde Drexler’s absence by making eight three-point shots and scoring a career-high 40 points in the Rockets’ rout at Milwaukee.

Hakeem Olajuwon added 24 points and 12 rebounds as Houston won its fourth game in a row.

Drexler sat out because of a bruised and swollen right knee.

Glenn Robinson led the Bucks with 24 points.

Sacramento 105, Portland 102--The Kings stopped a 23-game losing streak at Portland and got off to their best start (6-2) since leaving Kansas City in beating the Trail Blazers on Mitch Richmond’s basket with 23 seconds left.

The Kings hadn’t won in Portland since Jan. 26, 1986.

Richmond led Sacramento with 25 points.

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NBA Notes

Locked-out referees scoffed at the NBA’s latest proposed 10% pay increase over five years in New York, calling it only a 1.25% raise over the league’s previous offer. The league also said it will add a third official to two-man replacement crews if there is no deal by Dec. 4.