Spurs’ Victory an Outside Job

The San Antonio Spurs couldn’t shake the Boston Celtics until they did what they do better than any other NBA team--make three-point shots.

The Spurs, entering the game with 40.8% accuracy on the long ball, made seven three-point shots in the last 15 minutes Wednesday night and defeated the Celtics, 97-77, at Boston after trailing by five points in the third quarter.

“The three-point shooters we have now make us a different team,” San Antonio’s David Robinson said. “Now we can go on 15-to-20 point runs. It gives us something we didn’t have last year.”

Actually, the run was 40-18 starting with Terry Porter’s three-point basket that gave the Spurs the lead for good, 60-59, with 2:11 to play in the third quarter.

Porter made three three-point shots in the last three minutes of the third, and Derek Anderson made three more in the first 7:05 of the fourth.

Danny Ferry also sank a three-point basket in the fourth quarter as San Antonio went seven for 11 in the second half after making two of nine long-range shots in the first half.

“They kept the pressure on us in the first half,” said Anderson, who had 26 points, eight rebounds and six assists. “Terry hit some big shots and we matched their energy in the second half.”

Not even Paul Pierce’s 37 points could save the Celtics, who built a 30-14 lead in the second quarter. The Indiana Pacers’ victory over the Orlando Magic gave the Pacers a one-game lead over Boston in the battle for the final playoff spot in the East.

“We feel like we’re a playoff team,” said Antoine Walker, who had 13 points for Boston. “You’re not going to come into our locker room after a loss and see nobody smiling, but guys take it very seriously.”

San Antonio, 11-1 in its last 12 games, got 15 points and 14 rebounds from Tim Duncan, his NBA-high 56th double-double.

Indiana 96, Orlando 95--Reggie Miller scored the Pacers’ last five points and Indiana survived a second-half rally at Indianapolis.

Miller scored 22 points to lead six Pacers in double figures.

Charlotte 111, Toronto 95--Jamal Mashburn scored 27 points and David Wesley added 26 to lead the Hornets at Charlotte, N.C.

Elden Campbell added 14 points for Charlotte, which improved to 3-1 against the Raptors with an average victory margin of 25 points.

Miami 109, Chicago 81--Brian Grant scored 22 points to lead six Heat players in double figures at Miami.

The Bulls, losers of eight in a row, have lost 21 consecutive road games.

Minnesota 109, Dallas 97--Kevin Garnett made all nine of his shots in the first half and scored 28 points to lead the Timberwolves at Minneapolis.

Garnett, whose first-half shooting set a franchise record for field goals made without a miss, also had 15 rebounds and nine assists.

Washington 99, Golden State 94--Richard Hamilton scored 28 points and Courtney Alexander added a career-high 26 at Oakland as the Wizards handed the Warriors their 11th consecutive loss overall and their ninth in a row at home.

Around the League

Coach Flip Saunders of the Minnesota Timberwolves will lead the U.S. team at the 2001 Goodwill Games in September at Brisbane, Australia, USA Basketball said. . . . Guard Sherman Douglas of the New Jersey Nets will be sidelined at least a week after suffering a broken right thumb Tuesday.