Spurs Get 'Ridiculous' 64-59 Win Over Cavaliers

Spurs Get ‘Ridiculous’ 64-59 Win Over Cavaliers

L.A. Times Archives

March 26, 1997 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

The infamous 1955 Boston Celtics-Milwaukee Hawks game withstood yet another challenge.

The San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers were threatening to break the 42-year-old record for the lowest scoring game in NBA history, but a half-dozen foul shots in the final 20.3 seconds kept them from doing so.

The Spurs beat Cleveland, 64-59, at San Antonio on Tuesday night, and the combined total of 123 points tied the second-lowest mark in league history since the inception of the shot clock.

“We expected a low-scoring game,” San Antonio’s Cory Alexander said. “But 64-59? That’s ridiculous. But at least it was ridiculous and we won.”

The record was tied with 20.3 seconds to play when Terrell Brandon made two free throws. It was eclipsed with 18.9 seconds left when Alexander made two free throws to put the Spurs ahead, 62-59.

Chicago 94, Dallas 92--Reserve Steve Kerr sparked a fourth-quarter comeback at Chicago as the Bulls picked up their 60th victory.

Trailing by 10 points late in the third quarter, Chicago went to its bench and Kerr’s shooting led a 15-2 run to start the fourth quarter. He finished with a season-high 20 points, 12 in the final period.

Dennis Rodman injured his left knee and limped off the court in the closing seconds of the game.

“It hurts like hell. I’m going to get an MRI tomorrow,” Rodman said.

Orlando 114, Sacramento 103--Penny Hardaway scored 30 points at Orlando as the Magic picked up its eighth victory in nine games.

Rony Seikaly had 26 points and 14 rebounds for Orlando, which built a big early lead for the second consecutive game and wasn’t seriously threatened in the last three quarters.

Atlanta 96, Portland 89--Steve Smith scored 27 points and Dikembe Mutombo added 24 points and 12 rebounds as the Hawks extended their winning streak to five games at Atlanta.

The Hawks, who improved to 31-4 at the Omni, took command after the Trail Blazers forged a 49-49 tie on Rasheed Wallace’s dunk with 9:13 left in the third quarter.

Houston 112, Minnesota 103--Hakeem Olajuwon scored 39 points, making all 13 of his free throws, and the Rockets survived the loss of Clyde Drexler at Houston.

Drexler suffered a sprained right ankle early in the third quarter and did not return.

The Rockets were 31 of 34 from the free-throw line.

Phoenix 117, Milwaukee 112--Kevin Johnson scored 11 of his 28 points in the third quarter as the Suns overcame the loss of Cedric Ceballos, who injured his knee early in the game at Phoenix.

Wesley Person had 19 points, Rex Chapman and Danny Manning 16 apiece, Wayman Tisdale 15 and Jason Kidd 14 points and 12 assists.

Indiana 98, Toronto 84--Rik Smits had 28 points and 12 rebounds for the Pacers, who ended an eight-game road losing streak at Toronto.

Smits reached 20 points for the seventh time in his last 10 games. Reggie Miller added 24 points for Indiana.

Seattle 126, Golden State 89--Gary Payton scored 23 points in three quarters at San Jose, and the SuperSonics had their highest point output of the season in extending the Warriors’ losing streak to five games.

Seattle swept its four-game season series with the Warriors, winning by an average of 30 points per game.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

What’s the Point?

The fewest points scored by one team and both teams in an NBA game since the 24-second shot clock was introduced for the 1954-55 season:

FEWEST POINTS GAME, ONE TEAM

57--Orlando vs. Cleveland, Dec. 4, 1996.

57--Philadelphia vs. Miami, Feb. 21, 1996.

57--Milwaukee vs. Boston, Providence, R.I., Feb. 27, 1955.

59--Sacramento at Charlotte, Jan. 10, 1991.

59--Cleveland at San Antonio, March 25, 1997.

61--New York at Detroit, April 12, 1992.

61--Indiana at Cleveland, March 22, 1994.