Utah Avenges Loss to Seattle

Karl Malone had 28 points and seven rebounds as the Utah Jazz, off to the best start in franchise history, improved the NBA’s best record to 8-1 with a 110-80 victory Saturday over the Seattle SuperSonics at Salt Lake City.

In a battle of the Western Conference’s division leaders, the Jazz avenged its humiliating, 71-56, loss in Seattle on Tuesday with a vintage physical, pounding performance. Seattle lost its second straight after winning its first six games.

“We knew we really had to play well today because we were embarrassed up there,” Malone said. “We were on a mission, and I think it showed . . . on the court.”

Bryon Russell and Jeff Hornacek each added 15 points for the Jazz, who had a 17-6 run in the third quarter that put the game out of reach. Malone scored his 28,000th career point early in the fourth quarter and dominated his matchup with Vin Baker.

After leading Seattle in scoring in each of the first seven games, Gary Payton scored only seven points on three-for-13 shooting.

Indiana 82, Milwaukee 80--Chris Mullin made a 20-foot jumper with 18 seconds remaining to lift the Pacers at Milwaukee.

After Indiana’s Jalen Rose missed two foul shots with 6.2 seconds to go, Tyrone Hill got the rebound and the Bucks called timeout with 5.4 seconds left, but Terrell Brandon lost the inbounds pass.

Glenn Robinson scored 31 points for Milwaukee despite missing eight minutes in the first quarter after getting poked in the eye.

Reggie Miller scored 20 points for the Pacers. Dale Davis added 10 points for Indiana and Mullin had nine.

Miami 81, Houston 71--The Heat kept Scottie Pippen scoreless for the first 32 minutes and held the Rockets without a basket for 10 1/2 minutes in the second half at Miami.

It was another display of smothering defense by the Heat, which has won five consecutive games, holding each opponent below 85 points.

Pippen finished with 10 points and one assist in 42 minutes. P.J. Brown had a season-high 24 points and 15 rebounds for Miami, and Tim Hardaway added 17 points and 11 assists.

Atlanta 76, Philadelphia 69--Steve Smith led the Hawks with 14 points despite leaving the game with eight minutes left in the third quarter because of a strained right knee.

Allen Iverson led Philadelphia with 26 points, but shot only nine of 23 from the field.

Smith went home with the team and will get X-rays today.

Cleveland 89, New Jersey 84--Shawn Kemp scored 24 points at Cleveland as the Cavaliers won their fifth consecutive game.

He added 11 rebounds and scored nine of his points in the final quarter as Cleveland overcame a seven-point deficit. Kemp entered the game averaging 20 points and 9.4 rebounds.

Keith Van Horn had 21 points and Kerry Kittles 19 for New Jersey.

Portland 90, Golden State 84--Brian Grant had 18 points and a career-high 24 rebounds at Portland as the Trail Blazers stopped the Warriors’ four-game winning streak.

Isaiah Rider added 27 points as the Trail Blazers completed a sweep of their four-game home stand.

Grant’s 24 rebounds are the most in the NBA this season. His previous career high was 20 against Dallas last season.