NBA ROUNDUP : 76ers Beat SuperSonics With 4-0 Overtime

A deflected pass led to the lowest-scoring overtime period in NBA history.

With the visiting Seattle SuperSonics ahead, 96-94, with 22 seconds left in regulation Friday night, all they had to do was inbound the ball safely.

“Our strategy was to foul,� Philadelphia’s Johnny Dawkins said, “but the pass was deflected (by Rick Mahorn) and Derek Smith made the big basket.�

Smith’s layup with six seconds left sent the game into overtime.

Neither team hit a field goal in the extra period, and Dawkins and Mahorn had two free throws each to give the 76ers the 100-96 victory. Mahorn scored the first points with 1:38 left, and Dawkins sealed the victory with seven seconds remaining.

The 76ers missed all six of their shots from the field in overtime and the SuperSonics missed eight, seven by Xavier McDaniel.

Before Friday night, the lowest-scoring overtime period in NBA history was six points--three each by Philadelphia and Washington on Nov. 15, 1975.

It was only the third time since the advent of the 24-second clock that a team was shut out in overtime. Houston was shut out against Portland on Jan. 22, 1983, and the Lakers were shut out, 11-0, against Detroit last Dec. 1.

“This was a great defensive struggle,� 76er Coach Jim Lynam said. “There wasn’t a lot of open shots for either team.�

McDaniel led Seattle with 25 points. Charles Barkley scored 23 to lead the 76ers.

Charlotte 113, Denver 107--Robert Reid made four crucial baskets in the final seven minutes as the Hornets beat the visiting Nuggets to break a 12-game losing streak and give Coach Gene Littles his first victory.

Reid, who returned for a second stint with the Hornets after being traded to Portland, hit three baskets in a row to help Charlotte open a 103-91 lead midway through the fourth quarter. When Denver rallied, Reid converted a three-point play to give Littles his first victory after seven losses.

Littles replaced Dick Harter on Jan. 31.

Portland 120, Boston 101--Jerome Kersey had 24 points and 13 rebounds and Buck Williams added 23 points and 12 rebounds at Portland as the Trail Blazers pulled within a half-game of the Lakers in the Pacific Division.

Kevin McHale scored a season-high 34 points for Boston. Larry Bird added 21, but was only one of 10 from the field in the second half.

Chicago 119, Miami 105--Michael Jordan scored 26 points at Chicago and Scottie Pippen added 23 as the Bulls handed the Heat its fifth loss in a row.

Billy Thompson scored 20 points for Miami, which lost for the 22nd time in 27 road contests.

San Antonio 100, Utah 86--Terry Cummings scored 14 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and the Spurs finished the game with a 15-0 run to close within half a game of the Midwest Division leaders at San Antonio.

The Jazz, who got 28 points from Karl Malone, hold a half-game edge over the Spurs, who had lost three consecutive games.

Trailing 86-85 with 5:37 to play, the Spurs held the Jazz without a point the rest of the way and Cummings accounted for 10 points during the run.

Phoenix 135, Golden State 114--Jeff Hornacek matched his season-high with 30 points and Tom Chambers added 29 as the Suns averted a second-half collapse to beat the Warriors for their 13th consecutive victory at home.

The Warriors lost for the eighth time in a row at Phoenix despite Mitch Richmond’s 27 points and 20 apiece from Chris Mullin and rookie Tim Hardaway.

Golden State, trailing 73-59 at halftime, used a half-court trap to open the third quarter with a 17-4 run, tying the score, 77-77, on Terry Teagle’s layin with 5:34 remaining. But the Suns slowly pulled away.

Minnesota 111, Indiana 105--Sam Mitchell came off the bench to score 24 points, including a pair of baskets that started a decisive 9-1 run late in the game, as the Timberwolves held off visiting Indiana.

The victory was the expansion Timberwolves’ second in a row and ended a four-game winning streak by the Pacers, who were led by Reggie Miller with 32 points.

Cleveland 109, Atlanta 101--Brad Daugherty, playing in his seventh game since returning from foot surgery, had 21 points and 14 rebounds and started a game-ending 11-3 run with a three-point play as the Cavaliers beat the Hawks at Richfield, Ohio.