Orlando’s Home Becomes Its Castle After 122-106 Victory

The Orlando Magic seemed more relieved than elated.

“I am so tired of this streak, streak, streak,” forward Horace Grant said after the Atlantic Division leaders defeated Phoenix, 122-106, Sunday to set an NBA record for consecutive home victories.

“It’s like a big weight off our shoulders. Now we can really concentrate on the season.”

It was the Magic’s 39th consecutive regular-season victory at Orlando Arena and broke the standard for home-court excellence that Boston established during the 1985-86 and 1986-87 seasons.

Orlando is a league-best 32-0 at home this season and beat the Suns despite having to play most of the second and third quarters without Shaquille O’Neal, who struggled early because of foul trouble.

The all-star center returned at the start of the fourth quarter and scored 15 of his team-high 25 points to help Orlando break open a close game. The Magic made 24 of 26 free throws in the second half and outscored the Suns, 36-22, in the last period.

Danny Manning led Phoenix, which lost its third consecutive game, with a season-high 32 points.

New York 104, Chicago 72--The Knicks, a team in turmoil coming off its worst week in five years, pulled off the most unlikely upset of the season at New York.

It was by far the worst loss of the season for the Bulls. Chicago fell behind by 17 in the second quarter, battled back early in the third quarter to go ahead by three, then watched Derek Harper almost single-handedly turn around the game.

Harper made four three-point baskets and scored 16 points in the period as New York broke open the game and brought the Madison Square Garden crowd to its feet for its loudest outburst in months.

New York, which fired Coach Don Nelson on Friday and replaced him with 34-year-old assistant Jeff Van Gundy, led by 16 at the end of the third period, held the Bulls to 12 points in the fourth quarter and led by as many as 34 in the final minute.

Michael Jordan, coming off a season-high 53-point performance, finished with 32 points, but Scottie Pippen’s 11 were the team’s next-highest total.

Portland 113, Indiana 108--Clifford Robinson capped a 37-point performance by scoring all five points in the second overtime at Portland.

When the Trail Blazers blanked the Pacers, 5-0, in the second overtime, it was only the fourth time in NBA history that a team was held scoreless in an overtime.

Robinson, a 62.5% free-throw shooter this season, was 13 for 13 from the line.

Houston 95, Vancouver 89--Hakeem Olajuwon scored 42 points and grabbed 18 rebounds at Vancouver, Canada, sending the Grizzlies to their 11th consecutive loss.

Washington 99, Atlanta 91--Georghe Muresan sparked a third-quarter rally with 11 of his 27 points at Landover, Md., and the Bullets kept alive their playoff hopes.

Sacramento 96, Golden State 95--Mitch Richmond banked in a three-point shot with two-tenths of a second left to give the Kings a victory at Oakland.

Boston 110, Milwaukee 103--Todd Day, traded to Boston by Milwaukee earlier in the season, scored 28 points to lead the Celtics at Milwaukee.

Toronto 128, Dallas 112--Damon Stoudamire had 25 points to lead six players in double figures--Tracy Murray had 20--as the Raptors had a season-high point total and won at home for the first time since Jan 23.

San Antonio 106, Seattle 105--The Spurs extended their victory streak to six games and ended the SuperSonics’ 11-game home-court win streak.

Vinny Del Negro made a three-point shot with 47.8 seconds left and Seattle’s Hersey Hawkins made only one of two free throws with 5.7 seconds left.

New Jersey 99, Denver 88--Armon Gilliam and Chris Childs each scored 24 points at Denver as the Nets ended a five-game losing streak.

Miami 88, Cleveland 81--Rex Chapman scored seven points in the final two minutes, including a crucial three-point basket as the Heat held off the Cavaliers at Miami.

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LONGEST HOME WINNING STREAKS IN OTHER MAJOR SPORTS

* College Basketball

129--Kentucky, 1943-1955

* NHL

24--Philadelphia, Jan. 4, 1976-April 25, 1976.

* NFL

27--Miami, 1971-1974

* College Football

58--Miami, Oct. 12, 1985--Sept. 24, 1994

* Baseball

26--N.Y. Giants, Sept. 7, 1916-Sept. 30, 1916