NBA ROUNDUP : Suns Add Johnson, Another Victory

When the Phoenix Suns won 11 consecutive games with Kevin Johnson on the injured list, some wondered if the return of their point guard could possibly add anything to the team.

Johnson answered that question Wednesday by providing a perfect ending to the Suns’ December schedule with 25 points in a 133-110 victory over the Houston Rockets at Phoenix.

The Suns finished the month with a 14-0 record, tying the Lakers for the third-best single month in NBA history. The Lakers’ 16-0 mark in December of 1971 is the league’s best, followed by Boston’s 15-0 record in December of 1959 and the Lakers’ 14-0 record in November of 1971.

It also was the ninth straight victory at home for the Suns, who last lost on Nov. 28 at the Golden State Warriors.

“We can’t match up with some of these big teams, but he makes us a lot faster and gives us opportunities that we wouldn’t have, and we’re glad to have him back,� Charles Barkley said of Johnson.

The Suns hit their season-high point total thanks in part to a season-high 16 steals, which forced the Rockets into 22 turnovers.

“With all those quick guys in there in the third and fourth quarters, we just seemed to be able to get steals, and it was really fun for us to be able to see our defense be so effective,� Sun Coach Paul Westphal said.

Portland 111, Dallas 92--Terry Porter scored 30 points at Portland, including 14 in the final quarter, as the Trail Blazers survived an embarrassing scare to hand the Mavericks their seventh consecutive loss.

With the Trail Blazers leading 76-74 after three periods, Porter hit for seven points in the opening 3 1/2 minutes of the fourth period to save Portland from losing to a Mavericks team that lost by 58 points to the Sacramento Kings Tuesday.

Rod Strickland added 23 points for Portland while Doug Smith’s 16 points led Dallas.

San Antonio 114, Denver 94--David Robinson scored 29 points with seven blocked shots at Denver as the Nuggets losing streak reached a franchise record 12 games. Denver had lost 11 consecutive games twice last season.

The Spurs led 79-75 before the fourth quarter, but hit 15 of 21 shots in the final period to pull away. The Spurs were led by the defensive play of reserve Avery Johnson, who took over the task of guarding Chris Jackson, who finished with 24 points for Denver. Johnson limited Jackson to nine points in the last 30 minutes.

Chicago 105, Miami 100--Just when it looked as though Miami might beat Chicago for the first time, Michael Jordan got hot and the Heat went cold.

Jordan scored 30 of his 39 points in the second half and Miami missed 14 of 15 shots during one stretch in the final period at Miami.

Glen Rice scored 33 points for Miami, including three three-pointers in the final 36 seconds. But Chicago improved to 19-0 against the Heat.

Harold Miner, the rookie from USC who is nicknamed “Baby Jordan,� went head-to-head with the Bulls’ Jordan and missed nine of 14 shots.

New York 94, Indiana 90--Greg Anthony scored 19 points and New York overcame Patrick Ewing’s foul trouble to erase a 17-point deficit for the victory at Indianapolis. Herb Williams, a former Pacer, added 13 points for the Knicks while substituting for Ewing, who fouled out with 7:28 remaining.

Rik Smits led Indiana with 20 points and Reggie Miller added 19.

Indiana took a 58-44 lead into halftime, and Miller built on it with a three-pointer to open the third quarter before the Knicks came back.

New Jersey 118, Minnesota 92--Kenny Anderson, embarrassed in an early-season loss to Minnesota, scored 10 of his 16 points during a 27-9 second-quarter run at Minneapolis to hand the Nets their eighth consecutive loss.

Derrick Coleman had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Nets, who previously had not beaten a team by more than 11 points this season and who had the distinction of being one of only four clubs to lose to the Timberwolves.

Minnesota, with the worst home record in the NBA at 2-10, tied its most lopsided home defeat ever and was booed by 18,032, their smallest crowd in Target Center history.

Detroit 118, Washington 110--Joe Dumars scored 36 points and Orlando Woolridge added 29 to lead the Pistons at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Dennis Rodman had 23 rebounds for the Pistons, who won their eighth consecutive game at The Palace and have 12 wins in their last 15 games. Bill Laimbeer added a season-high 19 points for Detroit.

Pervis Ellison scored 27 for the Bullets, who lost for the 10th time in 11 games.

Utah 119, Philadelphia 110--Karl Malone scored 32 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and handed out nine assists at Salt Lake City as the Jazz won their fourth straight game and their eighth consecutive game at home.

Jeff Hornacek led the 76ers with 27 points and Hersey Hawkins added 20.

Philadelphia cut Utah’s lead to 95-91 on Ron Anderson’ three-pointer and a 10-footer by Charles Shackleford with 7:34 left. But a three-point play by John Stockton and a jumper by Jay Humphries put the Jazz up, 110-91.