NBA ROUNDUP : Suns Surge Past Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers, expected to be the best in the West, already have lost as many games this season as they did in the first 20 games a year ago.

Jeff Hornacek scored 12 of his 26 points during the third quarter Saturday night at Portland to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 100-76 victory.

The Trail Blazers won their first 11 games last season, 19 of their first 20 and 16 of their last 17 to post the best record in the NBA.

They opened the season Friday night with a romp over the undermanned Cleveland Cavaliers. But Portland never had a chance in this game, even though the Suns were playing without their injured playmaker, Kevin Johnson.

The Trail Blazers, who shot only 35.7% from the field, scored only nine points in the second quarter, their worst quarter ever.

Milwaukee 109, Chicago 107--Jay Humphries made a 15-footer with less than two seconds remaining to give the Bucks the victory over the NBA champions at Milwaukee.

The Bucks, who beat the Detroit Pistons Friday night, overcame a 46-point performance by Michael Jordan.

Miami 107, New York 93--The Pat Riley show is not ready for Broadway.

The former Laker coach lost his second game in a row to a recent expansion team as the Heat beat the Knicks at Miami.

Rookie Steve Smith scored 24 points to lead the Heat in their opener under new Coach Kevin Loughery.

“C’mon, c’mon. It’s two games, OK?” Riley said. “It’s too early to be concerned. I’ve lost two games in a row before. Even three.”

Washington 126, Boston 118--Michael Adams scored eight of his 40 points in overtime to lead the Bullets to their second victory in a row, at Landover, Md.

Adams, who had 29 points in the first half, missed his first seven shots in the second half before taking charge in overtime.

Larry Bird’s three-pointer with 21 seconds remaining in regulation had given the Celtics a 112-110 lead. But with 10 seconds to play, Tom Hammonds made a jump shot to send it into overtime.

Detroit 89, Atlanta 87--The Pistons were in danger of opening 0-2, but Joe Dumars’ 10-footer with 22 seconds to play at Atlanta won it.

Dumars had 25 points, seven during a 12-0 run that wiped out Atlanta’s 80-71 lead.

Dominique Wilkins had 32 points for the Hawks in their season opener.

Indiana 127, Utah 112--Chuck Person scored 31 points and made three three-point baskets as the Pacers went in front early and won handily at Indianapolis.

Karl Malone had 37 points for Utah.

New Jersey 116, Charlotte 108--Sam Bowie got the Nets off to a solid start at Charlotte.

The oft-injured center had 27 points and 12 rebounds to dominate the Hornets.

Bowie had five points in a row in a 16-3 spurt that broke the game open early in the fourth quarter.

Charlotte rookie Larry Johnson started at forward. He had 11 points and eight rebounds in the first half and finished with 16 points and 18 rebounds.

Orlando 122, Philadelphia 115--There is already cause for concern in Philadelphia.

With Charles Barkley getting only 23 points, the 76ers lost their second in a row.

The Magic, with Scott Skiles playing his second outstanding game, is 2-0. Skiles had 30 points and nine assists.

Denver 109, Houston 107--Rookies Dikembe Mutombo and Mark Macon scored the key points at Denver as the Nuggets won in overtime.

After Macon made a layup with 43 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime, Mutombo, who scored 27 points, made six consecutive free throws to win it.