Mavericks Slow, Can’t Stop Pain

Two ushers were assigned to guard a freshly painted wall Friday night at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. They might have had the most fun of anyone in the building.

Watching paint dry seemed like more interesting than watching the Utah Jazz, who got 23 points from Karl Malone in defeating Dallas, 68-66, in the lowest-scoring NBA game this season and the fifth-lowest in league history.

Utah set a franchise record for fewest points and fewest field goals in a game, 23, and only a layup by Erick Strickland as time expired prevented Dallas from setting its own record for fewest points.

“They did an incredible job executing a game plan, and it almost got them a win,” said Utah forward Adam Keefe, who had a game-high 11 rebounds.

Maverick Coach Don Nelson, 1-4 since taking over for Jim Cleamons on Dec. 4, unveiled an excruciating slowdown offense that kept Dallas close but didn’t prevent the Mavericks’ fourth loss in a row and 16th in their last 18 games.

“It really couldn’t have been executed much better,” Nelson said of Dallas’ anti-offense. “Hey, we’ve only won five games this year, and I thought that this was the only way we could win this game. I was almost right.”

The two teams combined for only seven field goals and 28 points in the fourth quarter. Neither team scored more than 19 points in any quarter or held a lead larger than six points.

“We had no idea that they would do this,” Utah guard Jeff Hornacek said. “We just expected a normal game.”

Charlotte 79, Chicago 77--Dell Curry made an 18-foot jump shot with five seconds to play in Charlotte, where the Hornets held Chicago to its lowest point total of the season and sent the Bulls to their eighth loss in 12 road games.

It also enabled Charlotte to end a five-game losing streak against the Bulls.

Chicago, held to a combined 27 points in the second and third quarters on nine-for-33 shooting, failed to score 100 points for the seventh time in eight games.

Indiana 104, Miami 89--Rik Smits scored a season-high 29 points and Reggie Miller added 28 for the Pacers, who overcame a 28-point effort by Tim Hardaway to defeat Miami for the 16th time in 18 games at Market Square Arena.

Mark Jackson tied his season high with 14 assists and became the seventh player in NBA history to record 7,000.

Seattle 111, Portland 98--Dale Ellis scored 12 of his season-high 19 points in the final quarter for the SuperSonics, who won in Seattle to improve their NBA-best record to 17-5.

Gary Payton and Hersey Hawkins scored 21 points each and Vin Baker added 20 points and a season-high 17 rebounds for the SuperSonics, who won their ninth in a row at home.

Vancouver 95, Golden State 88--Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 30 points, leading the Grizzlies in scoring for the 16th time this season, as they won at home.

Bryant Reeves added seven of his 12 points in the fourth quarter for Vancouver, which ended a three-game losing streak and won for only the second time in nine outings.

The Warriors, coming off Wednesday’s 93-92 victory over the Lakers, led at halftime, 48-47, but Abdur-Rahim’s baseline drive opened the scoring 48 seconds into the third quarter and gave the Grizzlies the lead for good.

Boston 97, Washington 88--The Celtics used a scrappy defense to go on a 20-2 run in the fourth quarter and overtake cold-shooting Washington at Boston.

Philadelphia 106, Denver 91--Jerry Stackhouse scored a season-high 32 points--17 in the first quarter--and Allen Iverson added 24 for the 76ers, who won at Philadelphia.

Iverson also had eight assists, and Jimmy Jackson had 19 points and eight assists for the 76ers, who ended a two-game losing streak.