Mourning Returns and Heat Beats Nuggets

Alonzo Mourning came off the injured list and scored 38 points, including a basket on a goaltending call with 14.7 seconds left, and the Miami Heat beat the foul-prone Denver Nuggets, 88-86, Saturday night at Denver.

Mourning, activated earlier in the day after missing the previous 12 games because of a foot injury, also had 10 rebounds.

Denver’s Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf made a three-point basket with 27 seconds left to give the Nuggets an 86-85 lead. Miami got the ball to Mourning and his shot in the lane was blocked, but rookie Antonio McDyess was called for goaltending. Mourning made one of two free throws with 6.3 seconds left for the final margin.

Mourning’s performance overshadowed the return of Denver power forward LaPhonso Ellis, who had missed all but six games last season and who hadn’t played this season because of knee problems. Ellis had eight points and seven rebounds in 23 minutes before fouling out with 35 seconds to play.

Cleveland 105, Orlando 94--With center Shaquille O’Neal sidelined by a sore thigh, the Magic’s seven-game winning streak was ended by the Cavaliers at Cleveland. O’Neal, who suited up but did not play, was nursing a strained left quadriceps muscle.

Also, guard Nick Anderson sat out because of a sprained right toe.

The Magic held on until midway through the fourth quarter, when Dan Majerle scored the last eight points of a 10-0 Cleveland run that put the Cavs ahead, 95-80, with 6:15 to play.

Charlotte 96, Atlanta 90--Dell Curry, making his first start in nearly five years, had 21 points as the Hornets bounced back from their worst loss of the season with a victory over the Hawks at Charlotte.

Curry was part of a lineup shuffle following the Hornets’ 24-point loss to Chicago on Thursday night. The change produced immediate results as the Hornets held Atlanta to 24 rebounds, the lowest total by a Charlotte opponent this season.

Houston 99, Indiana 87--The Rockets got a lift with the return of Clyde Drexler from the injured list, and Hakeem Olajuwon had 22 points and 15 rebounds at Houston.

Drexler, playing for the first time since he was idled by a shin injury suffered Dec. 19, had eight points, five rebounds and seven assists, including a behind-the-back pass that Sam Cassell converted into a three-point basket, highlighting a 10-3 run at the end of the third quarter that put the game out of reach.

Chicago 113, Milwaukee 84--Michael Jordan scored 32 points, Scottie Pippen added 20 as the Bulls became only the fourth team in NBA history to start a season 28-3 with the victory at Chicago.

Dennis Rodman grabbed 16 rebounds and Pippen had 12 for the Bulls, who had as many offensive rebounds (20) as Milwaukee had defensive boards.

Detroit 90, Washington 82--The Pistons built a 27-point lead in the third quarter and survived at late Bullet run at Detroit.

Detroit led, 48-38, at the half, but Washington’s offense collapsed in the third quarter. The Bullets shot 28% from the field and missed nine of 12 free throws while Detroit scored 31 points in the quarter, building a 79-52 lead.

Washington’s Ledell Eackles made three three-point shots to lead a 18-4 run to start the fourth quarter, pulling the Bullets to within 83-70, but they failed to score on their next five possessions.

Sacramento 115, Golden State 106--Walt Williams made six free throws down the stretch lifting the host Kings to a victory over the Warriors.

Williams topped a balanced attack with 27 points. Mitch Richmond scored 23 and Brian Grant and Olden Polynice added 22 in the Kings’ fourth consecutive victory.