An Old Teammate Stops Mourning

After years of serving as Alonzo Mourning’s backup in Miami, Isaac Austin on Sunday got a chance to show what he learned from the Heat center.

After Mourning had his way all game, connecting on 11 of 20 shots for 24 points while pulling down 15 rebounds, Austin blocked Mourning’s shot with 48 seconds remaining, preserving a 94-87 victory for the Magic at Orlando, Fla.

Orlando was holding an 88-85 lead with 1:25 remaining when it turned the ball over. The Heat ran a play to Mourning, but Austin rose to the challenge and blocked it. Orlando finished with a 6-2 run.

Mourning gave Austin credit for the key defensive stop.

“That was a good play,” Mourning said. “There aren’t too many times that has happened. I took it strong to the basket and I thought he was under the basket. I just laid it up and I should have just dunked it.

Houston 107, Sacramento 93--Hakeem Olajuwon had 24 points and nine rebounds as the Rockets won their eighth consecutive game, defeating the Kings at Sacramento.

Chris Webber missed the game for the Kings because of flu.

Portland 88, Phoenix 86--The Trail Blazers blew a 22-point second-quarter lead, then held on to defeat the Suns on Arvydas Sabonis’ inside basket with 9.8 seconds left at Phoenix.

Before the game, the Suns placed Rex Chapman on the injured list because of a sore toe.

Charlotte 105, Cleveland 84--Rookie reserve Brad Miller scored 24 points to lead the Hornets to a victory over the Cavaliers at Charlotte, N.C.

The Hornets trailed by nine at halftime but outscored the Cavaliers, 32-10, in the third quarter to take command.

Milwaukee 94, Minnesota 85--Haywoode Workman scored 19 points and the Timberwolves missed their last 15 shots as the Bucks won at Minneapolis.

The score was tied at 72 entering the final period, but the Timberwolves, who made 27 of 54 shots in the first three quarters, made only four of 24 in the fourth.

Toronto 91, Chicago 78--Rookie Vince Carter had 22 points and six blocked shots as the Raptors defeated the Bulls, extending their franchise-record home winning streak to six games.

Detroit 104, Seattle 87--Lindsey Hunter scored 20 points and Jerry Stackhouse and Bison Dele added 18 each to lead the Pistons to a victory over the SuperSonics at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Detroit won for the fifth time in six games overall and 10th in 12 at home. The SuperSonics, starting a five-game trip, fell to 3-9 on the road.

Indiana 101, Boston 93--Chris Mullin scored all 16 of his points in the third quarter as the Pacers remained perfect in Coach Larry Bird’s era against his old team, defeating the Celtics at Boston.

The Pacers, 5-1 in their last six games, improved to 6-0 against Boston in Bird’s second season.