Spurs Overwhelm Trail Blazers Again

As the San Antonio Spurs continue their March onslaught, the Portland Trail Blazers keep falling.

The Spurs, leading the Western Conference, beat visiting Portland, 98-85, Monday night for their 10th victory in 11 games. It was also their second victory in 11 days over Portland.

Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers, who led the conference only three weeks ago, dropped to sixth place after losing their fifth of six games.

For the Trail Blazers, it was the start of a grueling three-game trip that continues tonight at Dallas and Thursday night at Utah.

“We can’t drop any lower,” said Portland guard Damon Stoudamire. “Things are snowballing right now.

“We are in sixth position now, but we’ll be in seventh by the end of the week the way we’re playing right now.”

Derek Anderson led the Spurs with 28 points and 10 rebounds. Tim Duncan added 20 points and tied his career high with 23 rebounds. Steve Smith led Portland with 23 points.

The Trail Blazers got no closer than nine points after the Spurs surged ahead by as many as 17 in the first quarter.

Seattle 96, Philadelphia 89--Playing without Allen Iverson or Coach Larry Brown, the 76ers were no match for the SuperSonics at Seattle as Gary Payton scored 29 points, passing 15,000 for his career.

With Iverson, the NBA’s leader in scoring and steals, missing the game because of a left hip pointer, the 76ers lost three games in a row for the first time this season. Brown is suffering from disorders of the stomach and esophagus and has been undergoing medical tests in Philadelphia.

Aaron McKie, replacing Iverson, led the 76ers with 21 points.