Trail Blazers Build Pacific Lead

Brian Grant had 22 points and 14 rebounds, and the Portland Trail Blazers’ reserves keyed an early fourth-quarter run Thursday night to help the NBA’s hottest team defeat the Phoenix Suns, 97-84, at Portland, Ore.

Rasheed Wallace added 15 points and a season-high 13 rebounds, and Damon Stoudamire had 19 points and eight assists for the Trail Blazers, who won their fifth in a row and 15th in 17 games.

Clifford Robinson scored 21 points and Danny Manning added 17 for the Suns, who fell apart in the fourth quarter one night after beating the Lakers.

Portland, 13-1 at home, boosted its lead in the Pacific Division to four games over the Lakers.

Houston 113, Toronto 104--Michael Dickerson and Cuttino Mobley, picking up the slack as Hakeem Olajuwon was ejected, combined for 14 of the Rockets’ club-record 17 three-point baskets at Houston.

Dickerson, a rookie from Arizona, scored a career-high 28 points, making seven of nine three-point attempts. Mobley also made seven of nine from beyond the arc, scoring 26 points.

San Antonio 86, Denver 65--Tim Duncan scored 28 points and David Robinson added 12 points and 13 rebounds at Denver to lead the streaking Spurs, who have won 12 of their last 13 games.

Orlando 96, Cleveland 86--Darrell Armstrong scored 25 points, and Horace Grant had 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Magic at Orlando, Fla.

Around the League

The New Jersey Nets signed Mark Hendrickson to a 10-day contract in an effort to bolster their injury-depleted front line. Forward Scott Burrell and center Jim McIlvaine were put on the injured list this week, and another reserve, center Rony Seikaly, has played only five games because of a foot injury.