Adubato Makes Winning Start

Richie Adubato thanked his players, then paid homage to his friend and former boss.

The interim coach of the Orlando Magic won his debut Wednesday night at Orlando, 95-84, over the Portland Trail Blazers. Adubato replaced Brian Hill, who was fired Tuesday in a move the players engineered with complaints about the way he handled the team during a disappointing 24-25 start.

“As great a victory as it was, it’s a little sad for me,” said Adubato, who coached Hill in high school and was an assistant under him here for 3 1/2 seasons.

Penny Hardaway scored seven of his 21 points in the last three minutes to help the Magic end a five-game losing streak.

Most in the crowd of 17,243 voiced their displeasure with the firing by booing co-captains Hardaway and Horace Grant, Dennis Scott and Nick Anderson.

Support of the fans gradually swung back, though, during a solid first quarter for the Magic, who played with a sense of urgency absent in their last five games under Hill.

“That’s all right. We still love the fans,” said Scott. “In fact, thanks for booing us because it motivated us even more. It goes back to coach Hill is a great guy. That’s what they’re a little upset about.”

Minnesota 84, Vancouver 73--Rookie Dean Garrett scored a career-high 25 points and the Timberwolves matched a franchise record with their ninth road victory of the year.

Garrett, the NBA’s oldest rookie at 30, scored 13 points in the third quarter to spark a 24-4 run by the Timberwolves.

Charlotte 123, Phoenix 115--Glen Rice had 36 points and the Hornets held the Suns to six-of-22 shooting in the fourth quarter for a victory at Charlotte.

Vlade Divac had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Hornets, who made 13 of 17 field-goal attempts in the final quarter to win for the 14th time in 19 games.

Rice was 11 of 24 from the field, including six of eight from three-point range. The Hornets, the NBA’s top three-point shooting team, tied a club record by making 14 from long range.

Detroit 100, Washington 85--Lindsey Hunter scored 25 points and Grant Hill 24 at Auburn Hills, Mich., as the Pistons gained their fourth straight victory.

Juwan Howard scored 25 points for the Bullets, who are 2-3 since Bernie Bickerstaff replaced Jim Lynam as coach.

Joe Dumars scored five points as the Pistons opened the second quarter with a 9-2 run, taking a 35-27 lead they would never yield.

Atlanta 100, Indiana 87--Dikembe Mutombo had 17 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks as the Hawks rebounded from their worst loss of the season with a victory over the Pacers at Atlanta.

Mookie Blaylock had 19 points and Christian Laettner added 16 for Atlanta, which lost to Houston, 127-98, Monday. The Hawks have won 21 of their last 22 home games.

Reggie Miller scored 19 points for Indiana, but was only five for 17 from the field. The Pacers have lost four of their last five.

Toronto 125, San Antonio 92--Damon Stoudamaire scored 21 points and the Raptors made a team-record 15 three-point baskets in a victory over the Spurs at San Antonio. The Raptors made 15 of 25 from three-point range, including seven of 10 in the third quarter, to hand the Spurs their worst loss of the season.

Toronto, which took the lead for good at 7-4, opened the fourth quarter with a 10-0 run to take a 30-point lead.

Golden State 112, Boston 101--Latrell Sprewell scored 41 points and Chris Mullin had a triple-double as the Warriors beat the Celtics at San Jose.

Mullin, the subject of trade rumors recently, had 19 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. He also tied Nate Thurmond’s club record by playing in his 757th regular-season game for Golden State.

Todd Day’s 27 points led the Celtics, who lost their eighth in a row.