Distance Record Falls to Atlanta

Atlanta Coach Lenny Wilkens credited his defense with its offensive record.

The Hawks made an NBA-record 19 three-point shots in a 109-73 victory against the Mavericks on Tuesday night at Dallas.

“For us it all starts on defense,” Wilkens said. “When you get after it on defense, it opens up your offense.”

Mookie Blaylock made five three-pointers and scored 27 points--19 in the first half--for the Hawks, who won for the ninth time in the last 11 games.

Atlanta made 19 of 27 three-pointers to break the league record of 18 set twice last season by the Mavericks, most recently on March 5 against New Jersey.

Vancouver 93, Houston 92--Bryant Reeves made a 14-foot jumper with 5.8 seconds remaining, giving the Grizzlies a victory against the visiting Rockets.

The Grizzlies overcame a 10-point deficit in the final five minutes--outscoring Houston, 17-6, in the final 4:21--to end the Rockets’ six-game winning streak and send Houston to only its third loss.

Hakeem Olajuwon, who led the Rockets with 23 points, missed an awkward 18-footer at the buzzer.

New York 99, Utah 94--The Knicks hadn’t played many quality teams. The Jazz hadn’t played many road games.

Despite both teams adjusting to such unfamiliarity, New York and Utah played one of the most tightly contested games of the season at Madison Square Garden in New York.

It was the seventh consecutive victory for New York, and it added a degree of validity to the Knicks’ 16-6 record. It was only their seventh game--and third victory--against a team with a record above .500.

Toronto 97, New Jersey 88--Damon Stoudamire made sure the Raptors didn’t let another road victory slip away.

Stoudamire scored 14 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter and Toronto ended a four-game losing streak with a victory against the Nets at East Rutherford, N.J.

Walt Williams scored 24 points for the Raptors, who had lost their first eight road games. But it was Stoudamire, who took over in the fourth quarter when the Nets rallied, who made the difference.

The Nets, who played without injured center Shawn Bradley, lost their third consecutive game. Kerry Kittles led New Jersey with 27 points.

Indiana 103, Miami 89--The Pacers and Tim Hardaway’s strained lower back left the Heat hurting.

Antonio Davis led a strong showing by the Pacers’ bench with 21 points, and they beat the short-handed Heat in Miami. Hardaway, who began the game as the Heat’s leading scorer, played only eight minutes before hurting his back. It was 16-16 when he departed, but Indiana scored 15 of the next 17 points for a 31-18 advantage and led the rest of the way.

“It’s tough for us because Tim is a big asset to our team,” Heat center Alonzo Mourning said. “At the same time, you’ve got to make the adjustment, and we didn’t.”

Charlotte 93, Philadelphia 84--A few well-placed needles have Muggsy Bogues jumping again.

Bogues credited acupuncture for relieving pain in his left knee, allowing him to tie a career-high with 24 points as the Hornets won for the fifth time in six games with a victory at Philadelphia.

After playing in only six games last year after knee surgery, Bogues said he was still having pain at the start of this season. But a program that consisted of five or six acupuncture treatments a week is beginning to work.

Seattle 123, Golden State 83--Hersey Hawkins scored a season-high 30 points and Gary Payton added 24 as the SuperSonics broke a three-game losing streak with a victory against the visiting Warriors.

The Warriors, who trailed by 33 points at halftime, lost Joe Smith 2:04 into the second half because of a sprained left ankle sustained when Seattle’s Jim McIlvaine landed awkwardly on him near the Sonics’ basket.