Robinson Leads Spurs to Division Clincher

David Robinson’s dunkfest started one minute into the game when he jumped up, caught the ball and stuffed it before coming down.

Coming off his only absence of the season, Robinson went on to throw down eight more dunks as he scored a season-high 34 points in the Spurs’ 91-79 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night at San Antonio.

Robinson’s performance, which included six blocked shots and 11 rebounds, came on a night when he was unsure he’d play. He sat out Sunday’s victory over Golden State because of a sore back and still felt a little sore Tuesday morning..

“That’s definitely turning back the clock on all those dunks,” said Robinson, who went 14 of 18 from the field. “I ran real well tonight, and they rewarded me with a lot of passes.”

Tim Duncan added 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs, who won their fifth in a row, clinch the Midwest Division title and improved their NBA-leading record (56-22).

Michael Finley had 25 points for the Mavericks, who lost the season series, 3-1.

Miami 83, Philadelphia 81--Tim Hardaway sank a 22-footer with 5.6 seconds left at Miami to help the Heat beat the 76ers despite Allen Iverson’s 41 points.

Miami’s Alonzo Mourning had 20 points and 16 rebounds, both season-highs, in only 26 minutes. Heat guard Eddie Jones, returning after missing 15 games because of a dislocated left shoulder, played only nine minutes, went 0 for 3 and did not score.

Portland 116, Golden State 88--Damon Stoudamire scored 23 points at Portland, Ore., as the Trail Blazers pulled within a half-game of Dallas for the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference.

Minnesota 104, Vancouver 91--Wally Szczerbiak scored 28 points to help the Timberwolves clinch a playoff spot at Vancouver, Canada.

Cleveland 101, Orlando 78--Lamond Murray had 19 points at Cleveland to help the Cavaliers end a seven-game losing streak and drop the Magic into seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

Milwaukee 105, Chicago 84--Scott Williams had a career-high 24 points at Milwaukee, helping the Bucks to their first season sweep of the Bulls.

By game’s end, however, the Bucks were without leading scorer Glenn Robinson (eye abrasion) and top reserve Tim Thomas (dislocated shoulder).

Denver 100, Houston 99--Voshon Lenard made a 10-foot jump shot with two seconds left at Houston to eliminate the Rockets from playoff contention.

Around the League

Responding to comments made by fellow Washington Wizard owner Abe Pollin, Michael Jordan told the Washington Post that his return is still very unlikely. “I haven’t wavered one bit from what I’ve been saying,” Jordan said. “If I had to answer today, I’m 99.9% sure I won’t play again.” Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Mario Lemieux, a Jordan friend, sounded sure of a Jordan return. “He’s going to give it a shot and he’s working very hard,” Lemieux said. “He’s taking his time, he’s taking a few months to get ready, but I’m sure when he gets back, he’ll be the best player again.” . . . Wizard forward Tyrone Nesby spent Monday night in an Indianapolis jail after being arrested in the Conseco Fieldhouse locker room on a battery charge that was later dropped. Nesby was accused in 1995 of hitting a fellow student at Vincennes University in an argument over the O.J. Simpson verdict.