Duncan Leads the Way as Spurs Rout Mavericks

Tim Duncan and his San Antonio Spur teammates bounced back Saturday night from a poor performance against the Toronto Raptors.

Duncan, held to a career-low five points in a loss to the Raptors the previous night, had 21 points and 15 rebounds as the Spurs routed the Dallas Mavericks, 99-77, at San Antonio.

“After last night, we were a little disappointed,” center David Robinson said. “Getting the win tonight was good. We really used our depth.”

Maverick Coach Don Nelson said the Spurs were still stinging from their loss to the Raptors.

“They were mad as hornets tonight,” he said.

Houston 87, Golden State 86--Charles Barkley scored 15 of his 24 points in the second half at Oakland as the Rockets rallied from a 19-point deficit to extend their winning streak to seven games.

Barkley also grabbed 11 rebounds while Hakeem Olajuwon scored 29 points and Scottie Pippen added 16 and nine assists for the Rockets, whose winning streak is their longest since they won nine in a row early in the 1997-98 season.

Barkley made one of two free throws with 17 seconds remaining to give the Rockets an 87-83 lead. The Warriors then missed three shots before John Starks connected on a three-pointer with nine-tenths of a second to play.

The Warriors had a final chance after the Rockets’ long inbounds pass went off Barkley’s fingers and out of bounds with six-tenths of a second remaining. But Antawn Jamison’s long pass was knocked away as time expired.

Atlanta 103, Philadelphia 99--Tyrone Corbin banked in a three-point shot with four-tenths of a second left in regulation at Atlanta and the Hawks went on to win in overtime.

Steve Smith scored 29 points, including two free throws with 6.8 seconds remaining, to help the Hawks to their ninth victory in 11 games.

Allen Iverson, who sat out the 76ers’ home loss to the Boston Celtic on Friday night because of a deep thigh bruise, returned and led the 76ers with 24 points.

Cleveland 103, New Jersey 99--Shawn Kemp scored 26 points and the Cavaliers limited the Nets to three baskets over the final 7:44 at East Rutherford, N.J.

Stephon Marbury led the Nets with 26 points. Jayson Williams added 16 points and 12 rebounds. Brevin Knight scored 17 points for Cleveland.

After trailing most of the game, New Jersey took an 88-87 lead on Chris Carr’s jumper with 7:44 left. But the Nets got only one field goal over the next 6:13.

Washington 112, Denver 100--Mitch Richmond scored 11 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter and Juwan Howard added 27 for the Wizards at Denver.

Rod Strickland added 14 points and 11 assists. Richmond, Howard and Strickland combined for 70 points, 10 rebounds and 16 assists for the Wizards, who made 50% of their shots for only the fourth time this season.

Antonio McDyess had 39 points and 12 rebounds for Denver, which has lost four in a row.

Around the League

The Minnesota Timberwolves signed Dennis Scott for the rest of the season after the 6-foot-8 swingman averaged 11.4 points in his first five games with the team. Scott, who originally signed a 10-day contract on March 17, scored a season-high 22 points in Wednesday’s 87-68 victory over the Boston Celtics at Boston. . . . The 76ers signed guard Doug Overton to a 10-day contract.