The New Jersey Nets finally ran out of gas 3,000 miles from home.
Playing the last game of a surprisingly successful four-game Western swing, New Jersey stayed with Portland until midway through the fourth quarter Monday night before losing 110-94.The loss to Portland probably won't be foremost on the Nets' minds on the flight home. Instead, the team can relish its amazing 31-point win at Phoenix, its 12-point win at Golden State and its 11-point victory against the Los Angeles Clippers.
"I think this Western trip proved that you can't take us lightly," forward Derrick Coleman said.
Point guard Rumeal Robinson was a lightly regarded sub just two weeks ago. Then starter Kenny Anderson went down for the season with a broken wrist. Robinson stepped up to average 21.3 points, eight assists, 4.6 rebounds and three steals in the first three games of the trip and was named NBA player of the week.
The Trail Blazers pulled away against the Nets with a decisive 15-4 run that put them on top 94-85 with 5:11 remaining. Cliff Robinson was 10 for 17 in the second half and scored 15 in the fourth quarter.
"Their intensity in the fourth quarter just overpowered us," Nets coach Chuck Daly said.
Bullets 105, Cavaliers 101
At Baltimore, the Cavaliers missed an opportunity to stay 11/2 games behind the Bulls in the Central Division.
The lead changed hands seven times in the fourth quarter before Washington scored 10 straight points to take a 99-90 lead with 4:21 left. Cleveland then went on a 9-0 run and tied the game at 101, but Harvey Grant hit a 15-foot fallaway jumper a minute later to give Washington the lead for good.
The game originally was scheduled for Saturday, but was postponed because of the blizzard that struck the East Coast.
Lakers 92, Spurs 87
San Antonio has lost only six home games all year, but two have come against the Lakers. Los Angeles got 24 points from James Worthy and 17 apiece from Vlade Divac and Byron Scott.
The Lakers led 76-71 with five minutes to play when Anthony Peeler hit a 3-pointer and Divac followed with a free throw to put San Antonio in a 9-point hole. The Spurs got no closer than five the rest of the way.
San Antonio finished with 23 turnovers, one under its season-high.
Bulls 101, Clippers 94
At Chicago, the Clippers decided to double-team Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. That left B.J. Armstrong wide open, and the point guard responded with a career-high 28 points.
"The game just came to me," Armstrong said. "Scottie and Michael were able to find me. There was no pressure. I just happened to be the guy open, and I was able to hit the shots."
Horace Grant returned to the Bulls' starting lineup after missing two games with tendinitis in the left knee. He finished with 17 rebounds and 15 points.
Heat 103, Nuggets 100, OT
At Denver, Miami rallied from a 7-point deficit in the extra period for its ninth victory in the past 10 games.
Glen Rice, who finished with 30 points, hit two 3-pointers in overtime. The last one came with 1:32 left to put the Heat ahead to stay.
Denver's Dikembe Mutombo had a career-high 23 rebounds, but only eight points.