Sabonis Powers Portland

Arvydas Sabonis scored 13 of his season-high 28 points in the fourth quarter Friday night to help the Portland Trail Blazers end the San Antonio Spurs’ nine-game winning streak with a 90-85 victory at Portland, Ore.

Two free throws by Sabonis gave the Trail Blazers an 86-80 lead with 1:11 to play, but the Spurs closed to within a point with 21.3 seconds remaining. Mario Elie made a three-point shot, and after Tim Duncan blocked a layup attempt by Portland’s Jim Jackson, Elie wound up with a dunk to make the score 86-85.

Damon Stoudamire was fouled and made both free throws for an 88-85 lead with 19.3 seconds left. Steve Kerr and Sean Elliott both missed three-point attempts for San Antonio, and Stoudamire made two more free throws with three seconds to play.

Duncan led the Spurs with 29 points and 15 rebounds, but he scored only two points in the fourth quarter.

The Trail Blazers, who won for the 12th time in 14 games, were without shooting guard Isaiah Rider, who was suspended for one game and fined $7,500 by the NBA for kneeing the Sacramento Kings’ Jon Barry and shoving him in the face Thursday night.

Charlotte 83, Utah 82--Former Laker Elden Campbell had 19 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Hornets in overtime at Charlotte, N.C.

“Hopefully we can keep this going,” Campbell said of the Hornets, who are 4-3 under new Coach Paul Silas. “This team is really gaining confidence. You can see it in everybody on the floor.”

Karl Malone missed a three-pointer at the buzzer for the Jazz, which had a six-game winning streak ended.

Minnesota 105, Denver 101--Kevin Garnett scored 28 points at Denver to help the Timberwolves end a four-game losing streak.

Terrell Brandon added 17 points and 12 assists for the Timberwolves, who held the Nuggets without a field goal in the final six minutes and beat Denver for the ninth time in 10 games.

Detroit 94, Dallas 87--Jud Buechler made three three-point shots, his only points, and had a key steal in the final five minutes to help the Pistons hang on at Auburn Hills, Mich.

“Buechler killed us,” Maverick Coach Don Nelson said. “They found the open guy, and he delivered on the three-point baskets.”

The Pistons needed Buechler’s shooting to end their three-game losing streak after squandering an 18-point third-quarter lead.

Indiana 96, Chicago 87--Reggie Miller scored a season-high 31 points, including five three-point baskets, to lead the Pacers at Indianapolis.

Golden State 90, Seattle 78--Erick Dampier had a season-high 19 points and 13 rebounds at Oakland to help the Warriors end a four-game losing streak.

John Starks added 20 points for the Warriors.

Atlanta 93, Phoenix 85--Tyrone Corbin scored 18 points, making four of eight three-pointers, to lead the Hawks at Atlanta. The Suns were held well under their average of 97.5 points.