Spurs Overtake SuperSonics

San Antonio’s defense put the offense in position to win.

David Robinson’s dunk with 27.8 seconds remaining capped a game-ending eight-point run Tuesday night that led the Spurs over the Seattle SuperSonics, 79-77, at San Antonio.

“The best part of the game is that both teams battled it out,” Spur Coach Gregg Popovich said. “You had two good teams going against each other. Late in the game when we were down, a lot of teams would have packed it in, but we didn’t. The resolve we showed was great.”

After Robinson missed two free throws with 9.7 seconds left, Seattle had a chance to send the game into overtime, but Gary Payton missed an off-balance jump shot as time expired.

“We struggled a little bit during the fourth quarter, but we found a way to get it done,” said Tim Duncan, who had 22 points and 10 rebounds for San Antonio.

Seattle trailed, 61-56, at the start of the fourth quarter, but rallied and even led, 77-71, after a 10-0 run with 3:20 left.

San Antonio tied it at 77 on two baskets by Robinson and a bank shot by Duncan with 55.7 seconds remaining. Seattle went scoreless for the final 3:20.

Vin Baker led Seattle with 18 points and Payton added 17.

Toronto 109, Atlanta 88--Vince Carter scored 36 points, one day after cutting open the middle finger of his left hand in a weightlifting mishap, and led the Raptors to only their second victory over the visiting Hawks in 18 meetings.

Dikembe Mutombo led Atlanta with 22 points and 15 rebounds.

New Jersey 131, Boston 113--The Nets scored a team-record 46 points in the first quarter on 17-of-24 shooting en route to a victory at East Rutherford, N.J.

Stephon Marbury and Keith Van Horn had 30 points apiece as the Nets broke their previous record of 43 points in the opening quarter while opening a 23-point lead.

Houston 91, Cleveland 83--Kenny Thomas scored eight of his 14 points during a 23-9 run at the start of the fourth quarter to help the Rockets defeat the Cavaliers at Houston.

Houston trailed, 64-61, after three quarters, then surged ahead with an 18-3 run to take a 79-67 lead with 6:42 left. Thomas’ three-point basket made it 82-69, and Cleveland never threatened after that.

Shandon Anderson scored 23 points for Houston. Shawn Kemp had 23 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland.

Sacramento 119, Chicago 80--Chris Webber had 22 points, leading seven players in double figures, as the Kings easily stopped the Bulls at Sacramento.

Ahead by 15 at halftime, the Kings blew open the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Bulls, 34-18, and pulling away for a 96-65 advantage.

Phoenix 94, Vancouver 76--Luc Longley, criticized last week by team owner Jerry Colangelo, scored a season-high 20 points at Phoenix as the Suns beat the Grizzlies for the ninth time in a row.

Sun rookie Shawn Marion had 10 points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes after being sidelined for 31 games because of knee surgery.

Michael Dickerson led the Grizzlies with 19 points.

Around the League

New York Knick forward Marcus Camby, initially thought to have a tear of his anterior cruciate ligament, got good news when he was found to have only a sprain of his knee during an arthroscopic surgical procedure. The Knicks wouldn’t disclose the timetable for Camby’s return. Originally, it was estimated he would be sidelined six to eight weeks. Camby was injured when his knee buckled after a flagrant foul by Miami Heat forward P.J. Brown on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Knicks said forward Larry Johnson (chip fracture in his foot) and guard Chris Childs (sore Achilles’ tendon) will sit out of tonight’s game at Milwaukee. . . . Forward Dennis Rodman is expected to play about 15 minutes in a reserve role in his debut tonight with the Dallas Mavericks against the Seattle SuperSonics. . . . The Charlotte Hornets reacquired forward Chucky Brown, claiming him off waivers from the San Antonio Spurs. Brown spent last season with Charlotte before going to San Antonio as a free agent. . . . The Cleveland Cavaliers placed forward Cedric Henderson on the injured list because of a torn ligament in his left thumb and signed guard Earl Boykins to a 10-day contract.