Malone Leads Jazz Over Trail Blazers

In his first game against the Portland Trail Blazers since a forgettable effort in a playoff loss that ended the Utah Jazz’s 1998-99 season, Karl Malone scored 24 points and had eight rebounds as the Jazz defeated the Trail Blazers, 92-87, on Tuesday night at Salt Lake City.

One of Malone’s best chances for an NBA title slipped away last spring after he made only three of 16 shots in the decisive sixth game of a second-round playoff loss to the Trail Blazers.

This time, after the Jazz handed Portland its first loss in five games this season, Malone said it was another step toward his No. 1 goal.

“I just want one thing, and that is to win a championship,” he said. “I feel in my heart and in my body that I can do this as long as I don’t get hurt. I can play at this level for another three years.”

Malone made six of 11 shots and 12 of 14 free throws. The Jazz held the Blazers to 22% shooting in the fourth quarter after Portland made 73% of its shots in the third to take a 69-68 lead.

Trail Blazer Coach Mike Dunleavy said it came down to missed opportunities.

“We probably had, in the second half alone, five advantage breaks . . . that we didn’t convert,” Dunleavy said. “We made mistakes on the defensive end to give up some easy baskets.”

Miami 113, Indiana 101--Alonzo Mourning scored 33 points and took 16 rebounds at Miami as the Heat again displayed newfound firepower.

The Heat, adapting to NBA rule changes designed to increase scoring, topped 100 points for the third time in four games. Miami reached 100 only four times last season despite winning the Atlantic Division, and never scored more than 102.

But against Indiana, the Heat made 52% of its shots, scored 40 points in the first quarter and led by at least nine the rest of the way.

Tim Hardaway had 19 points and 14 assists for the Heat. Reserve Voshon Lenard added 15 points.

Phoenix 103, Chicago 80--Jason Kidd and Tom Gugliotta helped the Suns build a big lead and the Suns shut off a fourth-quarter rally by the Bulls’ reserves at Chicago.

Kidd, Gugliotta and Cliff Robinson scored 19 apiece for the Suns, who blocked 14 shots and built a 28-point lead in the third quarter.

Penny Hardaway, the Suns’ major off-season acquisition, added 18 points. Phoenix center Luc Longley went scoreless in his return to Chicago, where he played on three championships teams.

San Antonio 118, Golden State 89--Tim Duncan scored 19 points and led a suffocating defensive effort that held the Warriors to nine first-quarter points at Oakland.

The defending NBA champions, despite substituting freely in a game they led by as many as 32 points, had seven players score in double figures, including Malik Rose with 21 points.