Blaylock’s Late Shot a Winner for Hawks

Mookie Blaylock got another chance to win a game. This time, he didn’t miss.

One week after failing to make a last-second shot that would have defeated the Miami Heat, Blaylock connected on a running 10-footer in the lane with 1.9 seconds left to give the Atlanta Hawks a 103-102 victory over the Indiana Pacers Wednesday night at Atlanta.

Steve Smith led the Hawks with 25 points and Reggie Miller scored 26 for the Pacers, but others took center stage in the final seconds as the Hawks defeated the top team in the Central Division for the second time in eight days.

“On that last play, it was designed for everyone to get a touch on it,” Blaylock said. “I was up top and they got it to me, and I got a great look at it. I’m just lucky it went in.”

The Hawks defeated the Pacers, 85-79, at Indianapolis on March 16, followed the next day by an 86-85 loss to the Heat when Blaylock missed a long jumper at the buzzer.

The point guard had a much better look at the basket for the final shot against the Pacers.

While the Pacers worked hard to keep the ball out of Smith’s hands, Blaylock got loose at the top of the key, released the shot as he sailed past the foul line and skipped away in delight when the ball fell through the net.

Washington 96, Seattle 92--Mitch Richmond scored 14 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter to help the Wizards win at Seattle for the first time in 19 years.

The Wizards, who had lost 18 consecutive games at Seattle, also got their first victory this season against a Western Conference foe.

Sacramento 92, New York 91--Jason Williams scored six points in the final 1:23 at Sacramento, including a tiebreaking free throw with 12 seconds to play, as the Kings ended a four-game losing streak.

The score was tied, 91-91, and Latrell Sprewell had the ball as the Knicks set up a final shot. But Sprewell lost the ball on his dribble and Williams grabbed it and was immediately fouled by Sprewell. Williams made the second of his two foul shots.

Philadelphia 95, Vancouver 90--Allen Iverson converted a four-point play in overtime to lift the 76ers at Vancouver.

Iverson finished with 34 points--18 in a dominating third quarter and seven in the extra period--as the 76ers ended a four-game road losing streak.

Detroit 84, New Jersey 71--The Pistons limited the Nets to a franchise-record-equaling low of 23 field goals and got 18 points from Bison Dele at East Rutherford, N.J.

The Nets’ nine second-quarter points were a franchise low, while the 71 points were a season low for a team that fired coach John Calipari after losing 17 of its first 20 games.

Keith Van Horn led the Nets with 27 points, but he missed an open layup seconds before the final buzzer that could have wiped out the season-low point total.

Minnesota 87, Boston 68--The Timberwolves, embarrassed by Sunday’s loss to the Clippers, got 22 points and 14 rebounds from Kevin Garnett at Boston.

“We wanted to get the bad taste out of our mouths from the Clippers game,” Timberwolf guard Terrell Brandon said.

Charlotte 110, Chicago 81--Rookie Brad Miller scored 25 points at Charlotte, N.C., and the Hornets capitalized on the absence of Toni Kukoc, who stayed in Chicago to rest his sore back.

Houston 88, Dallas 78--Hakeem Olajuwon scored 24 points and rookie Cuttino Mobley added 16 for the Rockets at Dallas.

Miami 84, Milwaukee 76--Alonzo Mourning, who finished with 19 points and a season-high 21 rebounds, made two free throws to break a 74-74 tie and start an 8-0 run for the Heat at Milwaukee.