Robinson Suffers Concussion as Jazz Gets the Best of Spurs

With David Robinson out because of a concussion caused by Karl Malone’s inadvertent elbow, the Utah Jazz beat the San Antonio Spurs, 98-88, Wednesday night in Salt Lake City to clinch the Midwest Division title for the second consecutive year.

Robinson was guarding Malone in the lane 2 1/2 minutes into the game when the Utah star took a pass from John Stockton and turned to the basket. Malone’s elbow caught Robinson on the right side of the head and the San Antonio seven-footer dropped to the floor unconscious.

He regained consciousness about two minutes later and was helped off the floor by trainers and doctors. He dressed and was taken to LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City for observation and a CAT scan. The scan proved no further neurological damage beyond the concussion, but he was being kept overnight at the hospital for observation.

Malone led the Jazz with 32 points. Tim Duncan had 34 points to lead San Antonio, now only half-game ahead of Phoenix for the fourth-best record in the Western Conference.

The Jazz, meanwhile, moved a game ahead of idle Seattle for the best record in the West.

New York 83, Miami 80--Allan Houston scored 29 points, Chris Childs had his first productive game in weeks and the Knicks played tight defense at New York to prevent the Heat from from attempting a final shot.

In a possible preview of a first-round playoff series, New York stayed one game ahead of eighth-place New Jersey in the loss column and snapped a three-game losing streak that tied its longest of the season.

In the closing seconds, Knick guard John Starks bottled up Eric Murdock, preventing him from even attempting a tying three-point shot.

Childs, who hadn’t scored in double figures since Feb. 4, had 13 points. Alonzo Mourning recovered from a slow start and led Miami with 26 points.

Knick forward Charles Oakley, who has accumulated enough flagrant foul points to earn a one-game suspension any time he gets one, was allowed to play after the league office overturned a flagrant foul call he was charged with the previous night against Atlanta.

New Jersey 117, Boston 104--Sam Cassell scored 29 points and Keith Van Horn had 24 points and 11 rebounds at Boston as the Nets won their third straight game.

Antoine Walker led the Celtics with 43 points, but he missed two free throws with 4:57 left and the Nets leading, 97-93.

One more New Jersey victory or Boston loss would eliminate the Celtics from playoff contention.

Orlando 95, Detroit 87--Nick Anderson had 26 points and Derek Strong came off the bench to score 20 at Orlando as the Magic kept its fading playoff hopes alive.

The Magic trail New Jersey by 1 1/2 games for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.

Detroit lost its seventh straight game and was mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.

Milwaukee 107, Toronto 100--Ray Allen scored 25 points and Elliot Perry had 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter at Boston as the Bucks handed the Raptors their 11th straight loss.

Toronto tied a franchise record with its 61st loss of the year before 14,168 fans, the smallest crowd of the season at the SkyDome.

Philadelphia 109, Charlotte 101--Allen Iverson had 30 points, a career-high 10 rebounds and six assists at Philadelphia to lead the 76ers over the Hornets.

The Hornets, who lost their fifth straight road game, got 19 points each from Glen Rice and David Wesley.