Mourning Starts Fast, Keeps Going for 50

Alonzo Mourning had 21 points and seven rebounds Friday night at Miami.

Then the second quarter started.

Mourning finished the game with a career-high 50 points for the Heat, which defeated Washington, 112-93.

The Bullets’ Georghe Muresan, eight inches taller and 40 pounds bigger, had no chance.

“He was beating Georghe down the floor and then on the offensive board,” said Washington Coach Jim Lynam. “That was the first quarter--fast breaks and offensive rebounds.”

A good indication that it was Mourning’s night came in the third quarter, when Juwan Howard faked him off his feet but missed the shot. Mourning got the rebound while lying on his back.

“My teammates got the ball to me at the right place and the right time for me to do things with it,” said Mourning, who also had 12 rebounds.

Miami’s Tim Hardaway had 12 assists to go with 16 points.

Mourning hit 17 of 24 shots, and, perhaps more important, 16 of 17 free throws. He had been three for 13 against the Lakers on Wednesday and took the blame for a 106-95 Heat loss.

“I went back and practiced and practiced and practiced,” Mourning said. “They pay me a lot of money. If I go to the free throw line, I should be making them.”

Utah 105, Vancouver 91--The Grizzlies set an NBA record for futility with their 21st loss this season and are closing in the all-time mark, 24 games, spread over two seasons. Vancouver last won on Valentine’s Day. The Grizzlies are averaging 87.7 points a game, lowest for an NBA team in a season since the Milwaukee Hawks averaged 87.4 in 1955.

Karl Malone had 21 points at Salt Lake City for Utah.

San Antonio 119, Dallas 104--On the other end of the spectrum, the Spurs won their franchise-record 16th game in a row, behind David Robinson’s 31 points and 15 rebounds at Dallas.

Phoenix 108, Milwaukee 85--Charles Barkley scored 23 points for the Suns, who won at home for the 11th consecutive time and sent Milwaukee to its 14th loss in a row.

Orlando 126, Toronto 86--Shaquille O’Neal scored 24 points in 27 minutes for the Magic, who won for the fifth time in a row on the road, sent Toronto to its biggest margin of defeat all season and avenged an embarrassing 110-93 loss earlier in the season.

Sacramento 107, Charlotte 101--Sarunas Marciulionis hit a jump shot and free throw to tie the game with 14 seconds to play in regulation, then scored eight of his 25 points in overtime for the Kings in a victory at Sacramento.

Mitch Richmond added 21 points for the Kings.

Boston 101, Philadelphia 95--Rookie Eric Williams scored a season-high 31 points and grabbed nine rebounds in leading a Celtic victory at Philadelphia.

New York 94, New Jersey 78--J.R. Reid scored 13 of his 14 points in the final quarter for the Knicks, who won at home.

Minnesota 93, Indiana 91--Isaiah Rider made a key basket and three free throws in the final minute for the Timberwolves, who won at home.

NBA Notes

The Dallas Mavericks’ Jason Kidd and Jim Jackson, who haven’t been speaking to each other, said their feud is over.

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At a Loss

The Vancouver Grizzlies set the single-season record for consecutive losses. A look at the all-time single-season streaks: *--*

No. Team Date 21 Vancouver Grizzlies Feb. 16, 1996-Present 20 Dallas Mavericks Nov. 13-Dec. 22, 1993 20 Philadelphia 76ers Jan. 9-Feb. 11, 1973 19 Vancouver Grizzlies Nov. 7-Dec. 13, 1995 19 Dallas Mavericks Feb. 6-March 15, 1993 19 Los Angeles Clippers Dec. 30, 1988-Feb. 6, 1989 19 Cleveland Cavaliers March 19-April 18, 1982 19 San Diego Clippers March 11-April 13, 1982

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