The best and the worst of the NBA met Thursday night, and the surprising winners became Kings for a day.
NBAroundup Antoine Carr came off the bench to score 20 points and the Sacramento Kings overcame a 19-point first-quarter deficit en route to a 100-88 upset of the Portland Trail Blazers at Arco Arena.
Portland, gunning for the 1969-70 New York Knicks' league record for best start of a season at 23-1, lost for just the second time in 21 games. The Kings, who had lost two straight, improved to 4-15.
"This is really a big win for these kids," said Sacramento Coach Dick Motta, who has four rookie first-round draft picks on his roster. "This is just a prelude to what can happen to this team."
Motta was ejected with 2:23 remaining in the first half, and Portland Coach Rick Adelman said that was the game's turning point.
"I thought the momentum got away from us in the second period after Dick got tossed," he said. "I know Dick, and I know he tried to get himself tossed.
"We were playing well at that point. There really isn't much more else to say other than they played well and we didn't."
The Blazers, whose only other loss this season came at home to Phoenix - they were 8-0 on the road - raced to an 11-0 advantage. The Western Conference champions shot 63 percent from the field in the first 12 minutes, held the Kings to 36 percent and took a 38-19 lead.
But Sacramento rallied in the second quarter to get within 53-46 at halftime. Reserve Leon Wood scored 10 points in the period for the Kings.
After a tight third quarter, Sacramento opened the final period with a 15-6 burst for an 85-75 advantage. Carr and Wayman Tisdale, who had 18 points, each had two baskets during the spree, and Portland got no closer than eight the rest of the way.
Clyde Drexler and Jerome Kersey had 20 points apiece for the Blazers.
Knicks 87, Timberwolves 76
At Minneapaolis, Charles Oakley, playing a season-high 44 minutes, collected 22 points and 17 rebounds to go with Patrick Ewing's 31 points and 15 rebounds as New York posted its first two-game winning streak under Coach John MacLeod. Pooh Richardson had 22 points for Minnesota.
Hawks 106, Nets 97
At Atlanta, Dominique Wilkins scored 23 points and Kevin Willis added 18 to lift the Hawks. New Jersey was led by Mookie Blaylock with 22 points and Sam Bowie with 14 points and 16 rebounds.
Suns 125, Magic 114
At Phoenix, Kevin Johnson scored 15 of his season-high 38 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Suns to their fourth straight triumph. The Magic, who got 25 points from Scott Skiles, led by 10 points midway through the third quarter but lost for the 11th time in 12 road games.
Warriors 129, SuperSonics 106
At Oakland, Calif., Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond scored 20 points apiece as Golden State improved to 13-8, its best start since 1981.