NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION WESTERN CONFERENCE TEAM REPORTS FOR MONDAY, APRIL 6TH
BSW
MIDWEST DIVISION
================
DALLAS MAVERICKS
----------------
The Mavericks finished 1-4 on their five-game road trip Sunday
with a 105-99 loss to the Sacramento Kings. ... The Mavs have
lost three straight on the road and five of six overall. ... F
Michael Finley scored 23 points and G Erick Strickland added 17.
Finley made 9-of-22 shots, handed out nine assists and grabbed
seven rebounds but was held to only eight points in the second
half. ... The Mavericks shot 45 percent (39-of-87) and made
15-of-18 free throws.
DENVER NUGGETS
--------------
The Nuggets suffered their third straight loss Sunday, 87-83, to
the Seattle SuperSonics and have dropped the last eight
meetings. ... Denver (9-66) has just seven games remaining to
win once and avoid matching NBA's worst record ever, compiled by
the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers. ... Denver attempted a
season-high 23 three-point field goals, making a season-high
seven.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
---------------
Houston's struggles continued Sunday with a 109-94 home loss to
the Chicago Bulls. Clyde Drexler tallied 20 points and Mario
Elie added 18 for Houston, which has lost a season-high six
consecutive games since winning seven of eight contests. ... The
Rockets (37-38) are below .500 for the first time since March
9th, but already have clinched a playoff berth in the Western
Conference.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
----------------------
Stephon Marbury's layup with 23.4 seconds remaining lifted the
the Timberwolves to a 97-96 victory Sunday and their first-ever
season sweep of the Atlanta Hawks. Sam Mitchell tallied 22
points and Garnett had 18 and 13 rebounds as Minnesota snapped a
two-game losing streak and concluded its road trip at 4-3. ...
With 709 rebounds this season, Garnett eclipsed current Hawk
Christian Laettner's team record of 708 set in the 1992-93
season.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
-----------------
David Robinson scored five of his 24 points in overtime and
matched a season high with 18 rebounds in San Antonio's 88-80
win over Golden State on Saturday. ... The Spurs have won five
straight games for the first time since January 10th-18th. ...
They scored 12 points in the extra session after managing just
11 in the fourth quarter, when they blew a 14-point lead. ... G
Avery Johnson returned from a four-game absence due to a hip
injury to score four points in 12 minutes off the bench.
UTAH JAZZ
---------
Utah (56-18) beat Vancouver, 99-93, Sunday and is one-half game
behind Seattle for first place in the Western Conference. The
Jazz also remained 1 1/2 games behind the Chicago Bulls, who
have the league's best mark. Utah swept the season series from
Chicago and owns the tiebreaker edge should the teams finish
with identical records.
VANCOUVER GRIZZLIES
-------------------
C Bryant Reeves and F Shareef Abdur-Rahim combined for 56
points, but the Grizzlies were beaten by the Utah Jazz, 99-93,
Sunday. Vancouver is 0-12 all-time against the Jazz and has
lost six straight games overall.
PACIFIC DIVISION
================
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
---------------------
The Warriors, who lead the league in rebounding, were killed on
the boards Saturday, 50-34, in losing to San Antonio in
overtime, 88-80. "They really pounded us on the boards, and we
thought we could compete with them there," said coach P.J.
Carlesimo. "We have the same size they do, but Tim (Duncan) and
David (Robinson) played so well tonight." ... Golden State fell
to 6-34 on the road and missed an opportunity to win
back-to-back road games for the first time since February
13th-14th of last season. The Warriors had defeated the Rockets
in Houston on Thursday, 104-94. ... Golden State, which has
dropped 12 of their last 14 games, has lost four games in
overtime over the last three weeks.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
--------------------
Los Angeles, which was without injured forwards Rodney Rogers
and Maurice Taylor, went 0-4 on its road trip and is a loss away
from the ninth 60-loss season in the 28-year history of the
franchise. ... G James Robinson scored a season-high 26 points
despite a left thigh injury in Sunday's 94-93 loss at Cleveland.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
------------------
C Shaquille O'Neal poured in 35 points and grabbed 12 rebounds
and the Lakers rallied from an 18-point third-quarter deficit to
win their fifth straight game, a 105-103 overtime triumph over
the reeling Detroit Pistons Sunday. G Nick Van Exel added 19
points for Los Angeles, which wrapped up its Eastern road swing
at 4-0, the first time it has swept a four-game trip since the
1986-87 season, when it won the NBA championship. .. The Lakers
have won 10 of their last 11 games overall and 16 of 18.
PHOENIX SUNS
------------
F Antonio McDyess had what was likely his best game as a Sun on
Saturday to lead Phoenix to a 90-83 victory over Portland. The
former Denver Nugget scored 23 points, grabbed 13 rebounds,
blocked a season-best six shots and tied a season high with five
steals. He recorded five rebounds and half of his blocks in the
decisive fourth quarter. "That could be my best game (this
season)," McDyess said. "I was really into the game at the
beginning and I stayed comfortable and relaxed and I think that
did the job." ... G Dennis Scott added a season-high three
blocks and was one of just eight players used by coach Danny
Ainge.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
----------------------
Obviously missing C Arvydas Sabonis, Portland fell to Phoenix on
Saturday, 90-83. Sabonis sat out his second straight game with
an injured right hip. ... Starting in his place was F/C Jermaine
O'Neal, who did not attempt a shot and had just one rebound with
two turnovers and four fouls in 15 minutes. ... The other two
centers on the roster -- Kelvin Cato and Alton Lister --
combined to shoot 1-of-8 from the field for two points and just
four boards. ... The Blazers had their four-game winning streak
in Phoenix snapped.
SACRAMENTO KINGS
----------------
The Kings snapped a 12-game losing streak with Sunday's 105-99
win over the Dallas Mavericks. It was their longest skid since
moving from Kansas City in 1985. ... G Chris Robinson replaced
injured All-Star Mitch Richmond (sore right knee) and scored a
career-high 22 points in Sunday's win. "I was dreaming for this
game and it finally happened," said Robinson. "I got my chance
and I feel good that I came out and played pretty well."
SEATTLE SUPERSONICS
-------------------
It wasn't the expected blowout, but they got the win. The
Sonics trailed the NBA-worst Denver Nuggets with 3 1/2 minutes
to go before posting an 87-83 win on Sunday. Seattle improved
to 10-2 in games decided by four points or less. ... Seattle
swept Denver for the second straight season.
--------
This article remains the property of Broadcast Sports Wire and is not
to be modified or redistributed in any way. It is provided as information
through license arrangement between BSW and Pathlink Technology Corporation.