One Spur Short, but It’s Enough

It hardly mattered that David Robinson wasn’t there to lead the San Antonio offense. The Spurs still had Jaren Jackson and Tim Duncan.

Jackson scored a career-high 31 points and Duncan took care of the big-man duties with 17 rebounds and 28 points and the Spurs defeated the Seattle SuperSonics, 99-84, on Friday night at San Antonio.

“It was pretty good rhythm tonight,” Jackson said. “They continued to double down on Tim and I wanted to make sure that I was set. It was as simple as that. I just wanted to be ready and let it fly.”

The loss dropped the SuperSonics 1 1/2 games behind Utah for the best record in the Western Conference.

San Antonio lost Robinson when he was knocked unconscious Wednesday by an elbow thrown by Utah’s Karl Malone. The 7-footer, who suffered a concussion, is expected to be out at least through the weekend.

Minnesota 107, Philadelphia 102--Sam Mitchell scored a season-high 29 points, including the go-ahead basket with 48 seconds left, and the Timberwolves overcame Allen Iverson’s 43 points at Minneapolis.

Mitchell also had 11 rebounds to go with his fifth 20-point performance in seven games as Minnesota (41-36) clinched at least a .500 record for the first time since joining the NBA in 1989.

Atlanta 99, Charlotte 87--The Hawks inched closer to unseating the Hornets for the fourth seeding in the Eastern Conference playoffs by rallying from an 18-point first-quarter deficit at Charlotte, N.C.

Steve Smith scored 19 of his 23 points in the last three quarters as Atlanta won for the fourth time in six games and cut Charlotte’s lead over the Hawks to one game.

Boston 82, Orlando 80--Ron Mercer sank a 15-foot jumper with 14 seconds left in overtime at Boston, as the Celtics avoided elimination from the playoff race and severely damaged the Magic’s bid for a postseason spot.

The Celtics must win their remaining five games and eighth-place New Jersey must lose its last six for Boston to make the playoffs.

Miami 111, Toronto 105--Tim Hardaway scored 28 points and Marty Conlon hit four free throws in the last minute of overtime to lead the Heat at Toronto.

The Heat handed the Raptors their franchise-record 62nd loss in a game that featured an overtime shoving match between Miami’s Alonzo Mourning and Toronto’s John Wallace.

Voshon Lenard scored 24 points and Mourning had 23 for Miami.

Houston 97, Sacramento 85--Hakeem Olajuwon had 24 points, 11 rebounds and six assists and the Rockets won their third consecutive game, defeating the struggling Kings at Sacramento.

After the Kings closed to, 90-85, on Anthony Johnson’s three-point basket with 1:37 left, Clyde Drexler made five free throws in the final 1:21 as the Rockets pulled away.

Drexler, held to three points in the first half, finished with 18.