NBA ROUNDUP : MacLean Gives Bullets a Lift With 38

The best part about Don MacLean’s finest night in the NBA is that he got to celebrate a victory, too.

MacLean scored a career-high 38 points Wednesday night as the Washington Bullets held off a late comeback bid by Milwaukee to win 117-104 at Landover, Md., extending the Bucks’ losing streak to seven games.

The Bullets never trailed in reaching the .500 mark (3-3) for the first time since 1991.

“First and foremost we were able to win the game. That’s probably the most positive thing,” MacLean said. “It doesn’t do any good if you play a great game and your team doesn’t win.”

MacLean, a second-year player from UCLA, made 13 of 15 shots and was 12 for 15 from the line in easily surpassing his previous high of 24 points. He made four three-point plays and had nine rebounds.

MacLean was five for five with five free throws in the first quarter to stake the Bullets to a 32-26 lead.

“I spent a lot of hours lifting weights this summer, six days a week. I’m still trying to lift on off days to keep my strength,” he said. “The lifting, I’ve got to believe that’s the No. 1 factor in the improvement in my game.”

San Antonio 95, New York 90--Dale Ellis scored 21 of his 25 points in the second half at San Antonio as the Knicks suffered their first defeat after seven victories.

David Robinson had 32 points and 10 rebounds and Dennis Rodman grabbed 20 rebounds for the Spurs, who didn’t lead until the fourth quarter.

The Knicks were led by 21 points from John Starks. Charles Oakley had 16 points and 15 rebounds and Patrick Ewing, playing with a strained neck, finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Detroit 98, Orlando 92--Bill Laimbeer, playing his first game since a practice fight in which Isiah Thomas broke his hand, scored 26 points at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Despite the loss of Thomas, who will miss several weeks, the Pistons ended a four-game losing streak.

The Magic trailed, 73-69, going into the final 12 minutes after Shaquille O’Neal scored 13 of his 25 points in the third quarter.

O’Neal, however, was on the bench during most of a 14-4 run that gave Orlando an 83-81 lead with seven minutes to play.

Boston 105, New Jersey 100--Xavier McDaniel’s 12 fourth-quarter points at Boston helped the Celtics to their fifth victory in six games.

Robert Parish had 26 points, including Boston’s first 10 of the game, and Dino Radja had 24, both season highs. The Celtics improved to 5-2. They opened last season at 2-8.

Derrick Coleman led the Nets with 33 points and 17 rebounds.

Utah 115, Miami 111--Karl Malone scored 30 points, including a key three-point basket in the final minute, as the Jazz rallied from a 17-point deficit at Miami.

The Jazz, which trailed, 41-24, in the second quarter, closed the gap to 109-107 with 1:03 left in the game on a basket by John Stockton, who had 17 assists. Malone followed with his three-pointer from the top of the key with 31 seconds remaining, giving Utah its first lead since the opening quarter.

Charlotte 130, Sacramento 113--Larry Johnson scored 11 of his 23 points in the third quarter at Charlotte as the Hornets kept the Kings winless on the road.

Alonzo Mourning had 22 points as the Hornets won their fourth consecutive game. Dell Curry also scored 22 points, including three of Charlotte’s club-record nine three-pointers.

Mitch Richmond led the Kings with 26 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter. Lionel Simmons scored 24 points for Sacramento.

Atlanta 92, Philadelphia 90--Dominique Wilkins scored 23 points and Stacy Augmon 22 as the Hawks fought off a fourth-quarter rally at Philadelphia.

Kevin Willis added 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Hawks, who won despite missing 12 of 14 shots in the fourth quarter.

Shawn Bradley, Philadelphia’s 7-foot-6 rookie center, missed all of his four field-goal attempts, scored four points on free throws and had four rebounds and five turnovers in 13 minutes.