Suns Get Rare Win, Spurs Get Rare Loss

Maybe it’s coincidence, but Michael Finley has taken the last shot in the Phoenix Suns’ rare victories over the best teams in the Western Conference.

Until Tuesday night, that was one victory against 12 losses to Seattle, San Antonio, Utah, the Lakers and Houston.

Finley got a defensive rebound, made a free throw, stole the ball and made a breakaway dunk in the final 20 seconds to help beat San Antonio, 111-104, at Phoenix and end the Spurs’ 17-game winning streak.

“This is a good win, because this could be a team we face in the playoffs, and it was a matter of confidence,” said Finley, whose jump shot beat the Lakers, 114-113, on Nov. 25.

Charles Barkley, who had 28 points and 11 rebounds, made a three-point basket with 54 seconds remaining for a 105-99 Phoenix lead that put the Suns within reach of their first victory over the Spurs this season.

“I think Barkley’s three-pointer really hurt us,” Coach Bob Hill said. “I think if he would have missed, we could have rebounded and had a chance.”

Chuck Person scored 18 points off the bench for the Spurs, getting the last on a three-pointer with 40 seconds to play. He fouled out seconds later, depriving the Spurs of an outside shooter who had made six of 12 three-point attempts.

Finley had 26 points for the Suns, Wesley Person added 22 and Kevin Johnson had 17 points and 12 assists as Phoenix won its fifth in a row at home.

David Robinson led San Antonio with 28 points and 11 rebounds and Sean Elliott had 19. Elliott’s layup with 26 seconds left pulled the Spurs to 107-104.

The Spurs fouled Elliot Perry on the inbounds pass, and he made one free throw. On the next trip upcourt, Elliott missed a baseline jump shot and Finley came down with it. He went to the line and made his second free throw to make it 109-104 with 19 seconds left.

Finley then pulled off the gamebreaker, ripping the ball out of Vinny Del Negro’s hands while he was trying to handle a pass. Finley raced for the basket and jammed it through with both hands, putting the game out of reach with 9.8 seconds to go.

“We didn’t put a lot of emphasis on the streak, but it still hurts to lose a close game like this one,” Robinson said.

No more than seven points separated the teams in the seesaw game, which saw 17 lead changes, 18 ties and technical fouls called on Barkley, Danny Manning, Johnson and Finley.

“It was one game,” Barkley said. “We played well, and we were fortunate to win.”

The Spurs led, 53-51, at halftime and, 80-79, after a third quarter in which neither team got more than three points ahead.

Chicago 110, Miami 92--Dennis Rodman had 13 rebounds, eight points and no head-butts in a generally well-behaved return from a six-game suspension for the Bulls at Miami.

Rodman, suspended for head-butting a referee March 16, picked up his first foul nine seconds after entering the game in the first period. He threw his arms up in an exaggerated gesture, but said nothing to the officials.

“I think they tested me,” he said. “I think [NBA vice president] Rod Thorn and [Commissioner] David Stern were saying, ‘Damn, I wish he’d blow up.’

“It ain’t going to happen. They’re not going to run me out of the league.”

Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen each had 32 points for the Bulls, who avenged a shocking 113-104 loss at Miami Arena on Feb. 23, when the Heat dressed just eight players.

Milwaukee 105, Detroit 98--Randolph Keys scored all 12 of his points in the final quarter for the Bucks, who ended a month of losses, 15 of them in a row, with a victory at home.

Portland 101, Vancouver 85--Clifford Robinson scored 19 points to lead the Trail Blazers, who won at home and sent Vancouver to its 23rd consecutive loss.

Seattle 100, Utah 91--Detlef Schrempf scored 18 of his 29 points in the second half for the SuperSonics, who ended Utah’s 19-game home winning streak.

Atlanta 109, Boston 89--Steve Smith scored 22 points, topping the 20-point mark for the sixth time in eight games, for the Hawks, who won at home.

New York 90, Indiana 86--Anthony Mason scored 23 points, including two crucial baskets in the final minute, and Patrick Ewing scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter for the Knicks, who won at Indianapolis.

Denver 86, Minnesota 78--Dale Ellis and Don MacLean combined for 39 points in reserve roles and the Nuggets blew a 16-point first-half lead in Denver and then rallied for their 11th consecutive victory over Minnesota.

Sacramento 104, Dallas 97--The Kings got a combined 15 points from reserves Michael Smith and Billy Owens during a 21-7 run at the start of the fourth quarter at Dallas for their fifth victory in seven games.

Houston 112, Golden State 106--Sam Mack scored a career-high 38 points for the Rockets, who won at Oakland and snapped a season-high seven-game losing streak.

B.J. Armstrong scored 23 points and Joe Smith added 18 for Golden State, which has lost four games in a row and 10 of its last 13.

NBA Notes

The Houston Rockets have signed guard Tracy Moore for the remainder of the season.