NBA ROUNDUP : Spurs Clinch League-Best Record

Stepping to the free-throw line with half a second to play at Dallas Thursday night, Sean Elliott made both free throws to not only give the San Antonio Spurs a 112-111 victory over the Mavericks, but the home-court advantage throughout the playoffs as well.

The Spurs improved to 60-20, locking up the NBA’s best record for the season.

San Antonio’s David Robinson had 36 points and 13 rebounds.

Jason Kidd had 10 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds for Dallas.

New York 91, Charlotte 86--The Knicks’ fourth-quarter rally without injured Patrick Ewing and Derek Harper gave them the victory at Charlotte, N.C., and also clinched the Central Division title for the Indiana Pacers.

Seattle 111, Houston 101--Gary Payton, playing in his fourth consecutive game despite a broken ring finger on his left hand, scored 25 points for Seattle at Tacoma, Wash.

Hakeem Olajuwon led the Rockets with 26 points.

Chicago 120, Detroit 105--Although he insists he hates Chicago’s new United Center in comparison to old Chicago Stadium, Michael Jordan had 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists there in 27 minutes, leading the Bulls to their 11th victory in 12 games since he returned from retirement.

Terry Mills had 26 points for the Pistons.

Sacramento 112, Golden State 98----Mitch Richmond had 30 points at Oakland against the injury-riddled Warriors.

Sacramento won all five games this season against Golden State, the first such season sweep since 1948-49, when the Rochester Royals went 5-0 against the Philadelphia Warriors.

The Kings put guard Bobby Hurley on the injured list because of a lower back strain and said they expect to replace him with Derrick Phelps.