NBA Roundup : Pistons Hold Off Late 76er Rally for 96-86 Win

The Detroit Pistons warmed up for their showdown battle tonight in Atlanta by dealing the 76ers’ playoff hopes a setback Friday night in Philadelphia.

Isiah Thomas scored 21 points and Adrian Dantley 20 as the Pistons held off a desperate rally to gain a 96-86 victory and increase their lead over the Hawks in the Central Division to a full game.

The Pistons, apparently out of a slump that wiped out their big lead in the division, are in good position to win the title.

On the other hand, the third loss in a row has the 76ers in trouble. There are five teams fighting for three playoff spots in the East. With the slump, the 76ers (32-41) have the worst record of the five.

Charles Barkley and Cliff Robinson tried to rally the 76ers from a 70-51 deficit with 3:30 left in the third quarter. A 16-2 run made it 72-67, but Joe Dumars hit a jumper to start a 6-0 spurt for the winners. Barkley had 21 points and 21 rebounds.

Denver 129, San Antonio 124--There is also a big game tonight in the Midwest Division with the onrushing Nuggets trying to take first place away from Dallas.

In a game at San Antonio in which they trailed most of the time, the Nuggets rallied behind Lafayette Lever, Alex English and Michael Adams to pull out an overtime victory, their 10th in a row.

The Nuggets twice trailed by 10 points but sent the game into overtime, and Adams, who earlier extended his three-point basket streak to 35 games, sank four free throws in the extra session to win it.

Dallas 118, Utah 95--Rolando Blackman scored 21 points at Dallas, and the Mavericks controlled the boards to breeze to a win over the Jazz . The victory enabled the Mavericks to hold on to their half-game lead in the Midwest Division.

The Mavericks were without center James Donaldson, who is sitting out a suspension. However, he returns tonight for the game against Denver at Dallas that could decide the division winner.

Cleveland 104, Milwaukee 85--Brad Daugherty and Ron Harper set a blistering pace at Richfield, Ohio, as the Cavaliers continued their drive for a playoff spot.

The second win in a row enabled the Cavaliers to take a firm grip on the No. 6 berth in the battle among five teams for the three playoff spots still open in the East.

With a 36-39 record, the Cavaliers lead Indiana (34-39), Washington (34-40), New York (33-41) and Philadelphia trails them all.

Daugherty and Harper had 22 and 21 points, respectively to help Cleveland build a 97-68 lead, then left with 4:30 to play.

Washington 107, Indiana 100--Steve Colter sank a jump shot with 43 seconds left at Landover, Md. for the first Bullets’ basket in four minutes and it assured them of the victory.

The Pacers, who trailed by 18 points in the second quarter, had cut the deficit to 100-98 when Colter came through. The Bullets then made seven free throws to win going away.

Chicago 131, New York 122--Shortly after denying a published report that he had signed an eight-year contract for $28 million, Michael Jordan had another spectacular game in Chicago.

Jordan scored 40 points, his 15th game of 40 or more points.

Boston 127, New Jersey 90--Larry Bird scored the Celtics’ first seven points at Boston to give them a lead they never relinquished in a romp over the weary Nets. Playing for the fifth time in seven nights, the Nets lost their ninth in a row.

Seattle 114, Portland 100--Xavier McDaniel scored 34 points at Seattle, and the SuperSonics ended the Trail Blazers’ title hopes.

Golden State 112, Phoenix 111--Winston Garland sank two free throws with 46 seconds left at Oakland to beat the Suns.