NBA ROUNDUP : Nets Win at Boston, End 11-Game Skid, 111-106

The New Jersey Nets and the Boston Celtics entered Friday night’s game at Boston Garden with their longest losing streaks of the season.

Surprisingly, the Celtics still had theirs when it ended.

The Nets ended their 11-game slide and handed the Celtics their third consecutive loss with a 111-106 victory.

“We’ve played so well in this streak,” said New Jersey Coach Bill Fitch, whose team won for the first time since Dec. 21. “It’s been the best basketball this team has played (in the two seasons) I’ve been here.”

Mookie Blaylock led the Nets with 26 points and Derrick Coleman and Reggie Theus each had 24.

Reggie Lewis scored 31 points for the Celtics, who are 3-3 since Larry Bird was sidelined indefinitely because of back problems.

“We’d love to have Larry Bird back,” said Celtic forward Kevin McHale, who scored 18 points and had 13 rebounds, “but we’re a better team than we showed (against New Jersey).”

Phoenix 103, Detroit 102--The Suns held the Pistons scoreless for the final 3:05 at Phoenix and ended the two-time defending NBA champions’ 11-game winning streak.

Tom Chambers and Kevin Johnson each scored 27 points for the Suns, who beat the Pistons for the first time since Jan. 26, 1987.

Joe Dumars, playing despite a hyper-extended toe, scored 23 points for the Pistons.

Portland 123, Washington 99--Cliff Robinson scored 22 points and limited Bernard King to 15 as the Trail Blazers clinched the West All-Star coaching position for Rick Adelman with an easy victory at Portland.

Robinson started in place of Buck Williams, who was sidelined because of a pulled groin muscle.

Williams had the third-longest active NBA streak of consecutive games played with 143.

Charlotte 117, San Antonio 110--The Hornets shot a franchise-record 60% from the field and Johnny Newman scored 11 of his 30 points in the final 3:36 to key the victory at San Antonio.

Rex Chapman had 35 points for the Hornets, who won only their fourth road game.

David Robinson scored 26 points for the Spurs.

Golden State 141, Philadelphia 138--Tim Hardaway scored a career-high 40 points and had 14 assists to lead the Warriors in overtime at Philadelphia.

Chris Mullin scored eight of his 29 points in overtime as the Warriors won their fourth consecutive road game.

Hardaway, who scored 37 points in the Warriors’ victory over Boston Wednesday night, has scored a total of 112 points in his last three games.

Hersey Hawkins scored 30 points for the 76ers.

Atlanta 114, Chicago 105--Dominique Wilkins scored 17 of his 34 points in the third quarter at Atlanta as the Hawks won their 12th consecutive home game and ended the Bulls’ seven-game winning streak.

The Hawks overcame an early 11-point deficit for their 18th victory in 23 games.

Michael Jordan scored 30 points for the Bulls.

Utah 106, Cleveland 99--John Stockton, who had 27 points and 19 assists, atoned for a turnover late in regulation by scoring five points in overtime to lead the Jazz at Richfield, Ohio.

Larry Nance scored 27 points for the Cavaliers, who lost for the 12th time in 13 games.

Milwaukee 125, Orlando 106--Ricky Pierce scored 25 points and the Bucks held off repeated second-half rallies to beat the Magic at Milwaukee.

Fred Roberts added a season-high 23 points for the Bucks, who are 20-1 at home.

The Bucks missed only one free throw in 39 attempts.

Miami 107, New York 86--Sherman Douglas scored 20 points and had 11 assists at Miami as the Heat opened a 20-point lead before holding off a late rally by the Knicks.

Patrick Ewing led the Knicks with 23 points and 11 rebounds.