NBA ROUNDUP : Rivers’ Steal, Free Throws Defeat Heat

Doc Rivers stole the ball from Grant Long and hit two free throws with seven-tenths of a second left as the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Miami Heat, 117-115, Thursday night at Miami.

After Dominique Wilkins’ free throw put Atlanta ahead, 115-113, with eight seconds left, Long took an inbounds pass and drove to the basket. Rivers slapped the ball away and dribbled into the front court, where he was fouled by Sherman Douglas.

“Long broke through and I thought he might get a three-point play,” Rivers said. “He was going full steam one way. I was going full steam the other, and I got it.”

Rivers hit both free throws, giving the Hawks enough to survive Glenn Rice’s basket at the buzzer.

Moses Malone led the Hawks with 28 points. Rivers had 24 and Wilkins 22.

Rice had a season-high 27 points. Rony Seikaly added 22.

Seattle 123, Portland 102--Derrick McKey scored 22 points as the SuperSonics won at Seattle.

Dale Ellis got 11 of his 23 points as the Sonics outscored Portland, 35-21, and opened a 93-72 lead in the third quarter.

Xavier McDaniel scored 22, and Sedale Threatt added 18 points. Clyde Drexler led Portland with 25 points.