Hawks Defeat Trail Blazers for First Win

The NBA’s last winless team is winless no more.

After losing their first seven games, the Hawks got their first victory of the season Tuesday night when Jason Terry made a pull-up jumper with 2.6 seconds remaining to beat the Portland Trail Blazers, 99-97, at Atlanta.

“This is a very big monkey off our back,” said Lorenzen Wright, who led the Hawks with a season-high 20 points. “I don’t think we knew how to win. Now, we know we can do it.”

Terry was taken out of the starting lineup by Coach Lon Kruger after the worst start in franchise history. But the point guard was on the floor at the critical moment of the game.

Portland’s Rasheed Wallace tied the score at 97 with 8.6 seconds left, making a long three-pointer from straightaway with Terry’s hands in his face.

After a timeout, Terry took the inbounds pass and drove the length of the court, pulling up on the side of the lane and swishing a seven-foot jumper over another former Arizona point guard, Damon Stoudamire.

Terry played 23 minutes in his new role, scoring 11 points and doling out a team-high six assists.

“When you’re 0-7, something has to change,” he said. “Unfortunately, it was me. But if I can provide a spark off the bench, I’ve got no problem with it.”

San Antonio 86, Utah 79--Tim Duncan and Derek Anderson each scored 15 points to lead the Spurs at San Antonio.

It was the second consecutive loss for the Jazz, who had been leading the NBA in field-goal percentage at 48.4%. The Spurs held them to 39%.

Karl Malone, who began the game as the NBA’s third-leading scorer with 28.2 points per game, was only seven of 19 for 15 points. David Robinson held Malone to six points in the first half.

Malone added 12 rebounds, seven assists and three blocked shots.

Duncan also grabbed 12 rebounds, while Robinson had nine. Sean Elliott scored 11 for San Antonio, while Antonio Daniels added 10.

Houston 110, Chicago 83--In a matchup of last season’s co-rookies of the year, Steve Francis outscored Elton Brand, 28-16, as the Rockets won at Houston.

It was a season-high for Francis, who also had eight assists. Cuttino Mobley added 20, Maurice Taylor scored 12 and Hakeem Olajuwon and Kenny Thomas added 10 each as Houston won its fourth in a row at home.

Miami 89, Charlotte 86--Tim Hardaway made a three-pointer with 7.6 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Heat a victory at Miami.

Hardaway finished with 17 points and eight assists. He also made two free throws with 12.4 seconds left that tied the score and sent it to overtime.

Anthony Mason added 16, Brian Grant had 15 and Eddie Jones 19 before leaving because of a strained calf muscle in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.

Sacramento 96, Orlando 82--Peja Stojakovic had 27 points and 11 rebounds at Sacramento and Scot Pollard scored a career-high 22 points in Chris Webber’s place as the Kings beat the Magic for their fifth victory in a row.

Webber, the Kings’ leading scorer and rebounder, sat out to rest a sprained ankle.

Cleveland 96, Golden State 86--Lamond Murray scored Cleveland’s first nine points of the fourth quarter and had 14 of his 24 in the period as the surprising Cavaliers continued their fast start at Cleveland.

Murray scored seven fourth-quarter points during a 14-0 run that helped the Cavaliers open a 13-point lead.

Cleveland got sloppy down the stretch and allowed Golden State to pull within four points before holding on to improve to 6-1.

The Cavaliers, who have won their six games by a total of 33 points, will play the unbeaten Philadelphia 76ers tonight.

Around the League

Miami forward Don MacLean will be out four weeks after having surgery on his right foot. . . . Portland activated center Arvydas Sabonis from the injured list and put forward Antonio Harvey on the injured list. . . . Cleveland forward J.R. Reid, recovering from tendinitis in both knees, was activated and guard Wesley Person was put on the injured list. . . . Atlanta put forward Roshown McLeod on the injured list and forward Cal Bowdler was activated. . . . Dallas Maverick owner Mark Cuban was fined $5,000 by the NBA for his comments about officiating in his team’s Sunday loss at Sacramento.