Hornets Try a Quick Run to Forget Their Sorrow

They still have teammate Bobby Phills very much in their hearts and minds, but the Charlotte Hornets focused on basketball Monday night, and used one of the biggest runs in team history to end a losing streak at seven games.

Five days after the crash and one day after burying Phills, the Hornets rode a 25-0 surge in the second and third quarters to a 115-94 victory over the Toronto Raptors at Charlotte.

The run was one point short of the club record for most consecutive points scored. But the victory was secondary on an emotional night when the team continued to focus on its recovery from the shock of losing Phills.

“I don’t think you can ever put something like this behind you. We’re just going to keep trying to take it one day at a time,” said Eddie Jones, who had 25 points and five steals.

“This is a major boost,” Coach Paul Silas said. “We have quality people on this team. There’s no reason we can’t pick it up and go forward.”

Minnesota 101, Indiana 100--Malik Sealy banked in a three-point basket as time expired to give the Timberwolves a victory over the Pacers at Minneapolis.

Mark Jackson had put Indiana ahead with a short jump shot with 1.7 seconds to play, but Sam Mitchell found an open Sealy with the inbounds pass.

Houston 121, Dallas 111--Rookie Steve Francis scored a career-high 31 points and had 11 assists as the Rockets defeated the Mavericks at Dallas.

Center Hakeem Olajuwon saw his first action since suffering a hernia Nov. 26. Olajuwon, who was sidelined for 22 consecutive games, entered the game in the second quarter and went scoreless in eight minutes as the Rockets matched a season-high with their third consecutive victory.

Golden State 113, Orlando 100--Antawn Jamison had a career-high 32 points at Oakland as the Warriors ended their losing streak at 12 and handed the Magic its seventh consecutive loss in the process.

It was the Warriors’ first victory since General Manager Garry St. Jean replaced P.J. Carlesimo as coach Dec. 27.

Boston 105, Washington 101--Paul Pierce scored 18 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter and Antoine Walker scored 31 and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Celtics defeated the Wizards at Washington.

Wizard guard Mitch Richmond, the team’s leading scorer, was put on the injured list because of a broken rib. Laron Profit was activated to fill Richmond’s spot on the roster.

Philadelphia 101, New Jersey 96--Allen Iverson scored 34 points, hitting 30 for the 11th time in 12 games, as the 76ers beat the Nets at Philadelphia.

Iverson finished the game with a breakaway dunk after Keith Van Horn lost the ball while driving to the basket on the Nets’ final play. Van Horn went to the hoop even though New Jersey needed a three-point basket to tie with nine seconds left.

Milwaukee 107, Atlanta 101--Sam Cassell scored 31 points, handed out 11 assists and made a crucial baseline jumper with 12.6 seconds remaining as the Bucks defeated the Hawks at Atlanta.

New York 105, Detroit 94--Latrell Sprewell held Grant Hill to 16 points while scoring 23 of his own, and Marcus Camby added 22 points and 15 rebounds at New York as the Knicks ended the Pistons’ win streak at three.