NBA ROUNDUP : Streaking Nets Win 4th in Row

Who needs Jim Valvano?

Not the New Jersey Nets, at the moment anyway.

The Nets put together their first four-game winning streak in more than four years and made Orlando winless for December in the process as they defeated the Magic, 122-112, Monday night at East Rutherford, N.J.

The streak has all but quieted recent reports that Net Coach Bill Fitch would be replaced by Valvano, the former North Carolina State coach.

“We all know what a circus environment it’s been around here with Bill’s situation,” Net center Sam Bowie said. “I’m not sure anything is settled yet, but I’m sure he feels much more comfortable with the way things are going around here now.”

The same can’t be said for Magic Coach Matt Guokas. Orlando, which has not won since beating Miami on Nov. 30, lost all 15 of its games in December, tying a club record for consecutive losses set late in the 1989-90 season.

The NBA record for consecutive losses is 20 (Philadelphia 1972-73), and that seems within the Magic’s reach. They play their next five games on the road against Denver, Portland, Seattle, Phoenix and the Lakers.

Phoenix 110, Detroit 103--Negele Knight scored 14 points in the last 13 minutes at Detroit the Suns won for the 14th time in their last 15 games while ending the Pistons’ five-game winning streak.

Detroit led, 87-69, with one minute to play in the third period, but Knight’s eight points spurred the 19-0 streak that gave them an 88-87 lead with 8:09 to play.

Along with Knight, Jeff Hornacek added 11 fourth-quarter points, as the Suns outscored the Pistons, 37-16, in the period.

Kevin Johnson led Phoenix with 22 points and Knight finished with 18. Isiah Thomas led all scorers with 30 points, and Joe Dumars added 25.

Washington 94, San Antonio 84--Harvey Grant scored 24 points and rookie Larry Stewart had 23 as the Bullets won their first game at Landover, Md., in more than five weeks.

Grant scored 10 in the third quarter, when the Bullets turned a 46-44 halftime deficit into a 71-63 lead. Stewart then had a layup and a free throw in a 7-2 burst that gave Washington a 78-65 advantage with 9:28 left, and the Spurs never got closer than eight points.

Cleveland 121, Houston 89--Brad Daugherty scored 18 points and Mark Price had 17 points and 10 assists, all in less than three quarters, as the Cavaliers won their sixth game in a row and improved their home record to 14-1.

It was the fourth loss in the last five game for the Rockets.

Daugherty outscored Hakeem Olajuwon, 18-12, in limited playing time for both centers. They both sat out the fourth quarter because Cleveland had a 31-point lead.

In the last two games, Daugherty has outscored Olajuwon and San Antonio’s David Robinson, 49-26.

Chicago 109, Indiana 104--Michael Jordan scored 29 points, and the Bulls withstood a fourth-period rally at Indianapolis to win for the ninth time in 10 games.

Scottie Pippen added 26 points for Chicago, which won its sixth game in a row and 23rd in 25. Reggie Miller and Detlef Schrempf had 24 points apiece for Indiana, which cut a 20-point deficit to 102-99 on a layup by George McCloud with 1:50 to play.

Sacramento 117, Minnesota 109--Mitch Richmond had 27 points and Spud Webb 24 as the Kings won for only the second time in 53 road games, giving coach Rex Hughes his first victory.

The Kings are 2-14 on the road this season and 3-54 the last two. It was appropriate they won at Minnesota, last in the NBA with a 3-12 home record. Sacramento shot 56.5% and outrebounded Minnesota, 54-48.

Denver 109, Philadelphia 93--Dikembe Mutombo had 26 points and 17 rebounds, and the Nuggets dominated the backboards at Denver while winning for only the third time in nine game.

The 76ers, losing for the fourth time in five games, got 25 points and 10 rebounds from Charles Barkley.