NBA ROUNDUP : Spurs Rally to Surprise Trail Blazers

Sean Elliott’s two free throws with 5.3 seconds to play completed a game-ending 8-0 run that stunned the Portland Trail Blazers and gave the San Antonio Spurs an 87-86 victory in their first-round playoff opener at Portland.

Portland’s Cliff Robinson, one for 15 from the field and three for 10 from the free-throw line, missed two free throws with 10 seconds to play and the Trail Blazers leading, 86-85. Robinson then fouled Elliott, setting up the game-winning free throws.

The Trail Blazers’ Rod Strickland missed a 10-foot jumper with two seconds left, and Portland couldn’t get another shot off.

The Spurs set a team playoff record for fewest points in a half with 34 in the first two quarters, and they trailed by as many as 16 points in the third quarter.

But Portland could not put the Spurs away.

The Trail Blazers regrouped after a Spur rally and led, 86-79, on Terry Porter’s two free throws with 2:41 to play. But Portland couldn’t score in the final 3:50.

Elliott led the Spurs with 18 points. David Robinson was six for 20 from the field but made his last three shots to finish with 16 points and 15 rebounds.

Boston 112, Charlotte 101--Sherman Douglas sparked a third-quarter rally as the Celtics spoiled the Hornets’ playoff debut at Boston.

But Celtic forward Reggie Lewis passed out during the first quarter, left the game and will undergo medical tests today.

Boston’s leading scorer stumbled and collapsed to the left of the Celtics’ free-throw line midway through the first quarter. He sat on the court as Charlotte took the ball the other way.

Arnold Scheller, the Celtics’ team physician, said Lewis may have been suffering from hyperventilation or low glucose.

Douglas had 13 points, 11 assists and a career-high nine rebounds. Reggie Lewis had 17 points and Dee Brown 16.

Cleveland 114, New Jersey 98--The Cavaliers had nine players in double figures and overwhelmed the banged-up Nets at Richfield, Ohio.

The Cavaliers picked up where they left off in the regular season, winning for the 12th time in 13 games. New Jersey also continued a trend, losing for the 11th time in 12 games.

The Nets have won only once in their last 19 trips to Richfield Coliseum.

Craig Ehlo led Cleveland with 16 points. Brad Daugherty had 14 points and 14 rebounds, and Gerald Wilkins and Terrell Brandon had 13 points each. Derrick Coleman had 31 points and 10 rebounds for New Jersey.

The Nets, short-handed because of the absence of guard Kenny Anderson with a broken wrist and center Chris Dudley with a broken foot, made their situation even worse by getting into early foul trouble.

Anderson’s replacement, Rumeal Robinson, picked up three fouls in the first three minutes, and center Sam Bowie--playing with a broken nose--left after getting his second foul with five minutes to play in the first quarter.