NBA ROUNDUP : Webber Upstaged by Brandon in Return

On a night when Chris Webber played his first game of the season, Terrell Brandon played the finest game of his NBA career.

Brandon’s season-high 29 points and career-best 15 assists overshadowed a 22-point effort by Webber as the Cleveland Cavaliers won their fourth game in a row Thursday, 97-85 over the Washington Bullets at Landover, Md.

Webber sat out 11 games because of a separated left shoulder and served a one-game suspension Tuesday night. The third-year forward wasted little time getting into the flow, scoring on an alley-oop with 17 seconds elapsed and accounting for 11 of Washington’s 18 first-quarter points.

But Webber was held scoreless in the fourth quarter, missing two shots, and the Bullets lost their third in a row.

“I’m disappointed that we lost, but you have to understand that I gained a mental victory today just by making it through the game,” he said. “Before the game I was nervous about the injury, just praying that I would make it through. I’m glad I got the first game out of the way.”

Danny Ferry matched his career high by scoring 24 for the Cavaliers, who forced 22 turnovers and held the Bullets to 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Utah 112, Houston 105--Karl Malone scored 27 points and the Jazz held off a furious fourth-quarter rally by the Rockets in a meeting of the Midwest Division’s two top teams at Houston.

John Stockton had 22 points and 13 assists for Utah. Hakeem Olajuwon had 31 points and 13 rebounds for the Rockets.

Orlando 110, Dallas 96--Dennis Scott scored 29 points and Anfernee Hardaway had 24 at Orlando as the Magic improved to an NBA-best 13-2 and handed the Mavericks their seventh loss in a row.

Chicago 94, Vancouver 88--Michael Jordan scored 29 points, including 17 of the Bulls’ last 21, at Vancouver.

The Grizzlies have lost 13 games in a row after opening with two victories.

Sacramento 105, Indiana 95--Tyus Edney scored nine of his 18 points during a 13-4 run early in the fourth quarter at Sacramento, leading the Kings to their fourth consecutive victory.

Miami 118, Detroit 107--Bimbo Coles and Keith Askins each scored 11 fourth-quarter points as the Heat improved to 9-3 with a victory at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Coles led the Heat with 26 points, Alonzo Mourning had 23 and Billy Owens added 20. The Pistons’ Grant Hill had 33 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.

Milwaukee 100, Portland 99--Glenn Robinson capped a 31-point effort by sinking a 12-foot jumper with 10.1 seconds to play, giving the Bucks their second road victory of the season.