David Robinson scored 20 points and had a key layup in overtime to lead the San Antonio Spurs past Portland 100-97 Friday, eliminating the Trail Blazers from the Western Conference playoffs in the first round.
Robinson's field goal with 31 seconds remaining in overtime gave the Spurs a 98-97 edge. With six seconds remaining, Willie Anderson sank a pair of free throws to end the scoring.Dale Ellis led the Spurs with 21 points.
The Trail Blazers, runners-up last year to the NBA champion Chicago Bulls, haven't been knocked out of the playoffs this early since a 1989 first-round sweep by the Los Angeles Lakers.
San Antonio, winning the series 3-1, now faces the winner of the Phoenix Suns-Lakers series, to be decided by a fifth game Sunday.
Following Anderson's free throws, 3-point attempts by Portland's Cliff Robinson and Terry Porter missed the mark as time ran out.
The Trail Blazers had battled back from 15 points down at halftime and took an 88-87 lead with four minutes remaining in regulation on a field goal by Clyde Drexler. He followed up with a free throw after a foul by Ellis to make it 89-97.
But a Sean Elliott basket for the Spurs tied it at 89, and the teams went into overtime when Ellis missed a shot at the buzzer.
Elliott and Anderson each scored 17 points for the Spurs, while Robinson grabbed 17 rebounds.
Mark Bryant led the Trail Blazers with 21 points, Drexler had 17, Jerome Kersey 15 and Cliff Robinson 14.
Nets 96, Cavaliers 79
At East Rutherford, N.J., Derrick Coleman collected 21 points, 14 rebounds, nine blocks and eight assists and New Jersey's defense smothered Cleveland, carrying the Nets to a victory over the Cavaliers that evened their opening round Eastern Conference playoff series at two games apiece.
The best-of-five series will be decided Sunday at Cleveland.
Chris Morris added 20 points and Drazen Petrovic 19 for the Nets, who turned the game into a rout with a 29-6 run in the second half. Maurice Cheeks and Dwayne Schintzius added 10 points apiece for New Jersey.
Brad Daugherty led Cleveland with 29 points, but he got little help. Mark Price failed to break out of a series-long shooting slump, missing his first five shots and finishing with 11 points.
When the Cavaliers went to Terrell Brandon at point guard, the Nets took advantage of the rookie's inexperience and forced turnovers leading to some easy baskets.
The Nets, despite playing without three key players - injured point guard Kenny Anderson and centers Sam Bowie and Chris Dudley - manhandled the Cavaliers almost from the outset.
Trailing by 14 points at the half, the Cavaliers opened the second half with a 14-4 run to cut the lead to 59-55 on Craig Ehlo's basket with 8:05 left in the third quarter. Daughtery fueled the drive with 7 points and Price hit a 3-pointer.
However, the Nets quickly regrouped and outscored Cleveland 29-6 with a blistering run to open an 88-61 lead after three quarters.
New Jersey limited the Cavaliers to one shot during the burst and looked to run at every opportunity. Rumeal Robinson scored all 6 of his points in the charge and Chris Morris scored on a jam, hit a 3-pointer and slammed home a Petrovic miss - all of which came in transition.
The Cavaliers hit just seven of 21 attempts from the field in the third quarter and were outrebounded 15-7.