Rider Leads the Hawks Past Kings

Pounding his chest, tugging his jersey and literally carrying the Atlanta Hawks on his back, Isaiah Rider seems worth all the trouble he caused earlier in the season.

Rider equaled his season high with 32 points and took control in the second half, pulling the Hawks from a 15-point deficit to a 110-100 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night at Atlanta.

“I don’t care what they say about Isaiah Rider,” Sacramento’s Nick Anderson said. “I don’t care if he never comes to practice. If he continues to play like that, they’re going to win a lot of games.”

Rider has been on his best behavior since a one-game suspension Nov. 16 for missing practice, averaging 23.3 points in the last eight games.

He had 13 points in a 21-8 run to close the third quarter, giving the Hawks an 84-83 lead heading to the final period when he converted a three-point play with 23.7 seconds remaining.

Sacramento scored 42 points in the first quarter while building a 10-point lead. The Kings increased the margin to 59-44 in the second quarter before settling for a 67-58 lead at the break.

Orlando 103, Minnesota 93--Rookie point guard Chucky Atkins scored a season-high 18 points off the bench for the Magic at Minneapolis.

Orlando’s Darrell Armstrong, averaging nearly 20 points a game, missed his first 10 shots and had just two free throws in 25 minutes. But Atkins came off the bench and scored 11 of his points in the second half.

Chris Gatling led Orlando with 22 points off the bench as the Magic capitalized on Minnesota’s season-high 22 turnovers.

Seattle 117, Golden State 108--Vin Baker scored 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the SuperSonics won at Oakland.

Gary Payton added 27 points as Seattle responded to its first home loss of the season on Tuesday night by improving to 6-3 on the road.

Vonteego Cummings scored a career-high 19 points as the Warriors lost their eighth consecutive game for the first time since an eight-game skid between March 11-24, 1998.

New York 84, Milwaukee 80--Allan Houston had 25 points and Latrell Sprewell had 23 at Milwaukee.

New York’s defensive pressure made the difference as the Bucks committed 15 turnovers and shot 32% from the field. Glenn Robinson missed the game because of a calf bruise.

San Antonio 96, New Jersey 94--Tim Duncan had 26 points and five blocked shots, including a rejection of Stephon Marbury’s potential game-tying layup with two seconds left at East Rutherford, N.J.

It was the closest game of the season for the Spurs, who won their seventh in a row as they opened a four-game road trip. David Robinson added season-highs of 27 points and 13 rebounds, and Avery Johnson scored 12.

Dallas 101, Chicago 95--Michael Finley scored 30 points as the Mavericks continued the Bulls’ misery at Chicago. The Bulls (1-13) have lost eight in a row.

The Mavericks got a boost from Damon Jones, whom they signed just before the game. Jones scored 13 points off the bench.

Around the League

Leon Smith, the troubled teenager with the Dallas Mavericks, was being sought for questioning by Chicago police after they received a report he threatened his ex-girlfriend with a gun at her Chicago high school. Authorities have not issued an arrest warrant for Smith, but said they want to talk to him about the alleged confrontation, police spokesman Edward Alonzo said. . . . Golden State put forward Donyell Marshall on the injured list because of tendinitis in his left knee.