NBA Roundup : Dallas Drops Chicago, Narrows Denver Lead in Midwest Division

All-Star guard Rolando Blackman scored 13 fourth-quarter points, including two baskets and three free throws in the final two minutes, Sunday at Chicago, to lift the Dallas Mavericks to a 120-114 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

In winning for the fifth time in seven games this month, Dallas moved to within 1 1/2 games of the second-place Denver Rockets in the Midwest Division.

Blackman, who finished with 28 points, gave the Mavericks a 109-106 lead with 2:53 left.

Chicago’s George Gervin hit a jumper, but reserve guard Brad Davis and Blackman combined for six straight points to put the game out of reach.

Davis had 11 fourth-quarter points for Dallas.

The Bulls lost for the sixth straight time despite the play of Charles Oakley, who had 28 points and 15 rebounds, and Gervin, who had 24 points.

Chicago trailed, 101-93, with 6:32 left when Oakley got the Bulls back into the game by scoring 11 consecutive points. Gervin hit a jumper to pull the Bulls within 107-106 before Blackman and Davis put the Mavericks back in control.

After trailing, 57-44, late in the first half, the Bulls outscored Dallas, 34-18, to grab a 78-75 advantage with 2:44 remaining in the third quarter. But Perkins and Aguirre combined for all the Dallas points in a 9-1 surge for an 84-79 lead.

The last-place Bulls again played without starters Michael Jordan, Jawann Oldham and Quintin Dailey.

Atlanta 110, Portland 101--Reserve forward Cliff Levingston stepped in for ailing All-Star Dominique Wilkins and scored 25 points to lead the Hawks past the Trail Blazers at Portland.

It was the Blazers’ sixth straight loss and ninth in their last 10 games.

While the Hawks played well without Wilkins, the NBA’s third-leading scorer, Portland again missed center Sam Bowie, benched by a bruise on his left leg.

Wilkins sprained his left knee Friday night against the Lakers in Los Angeles, but the Atlanta front line accounted for 76 of the Hawks’ 110 points without him.

Kevin Willis scored 21 points for Atlanta and 7-foot rookie center Jon Koncak came off the bench to add 16. Kiki Vandeweghe scored 21 points for Portland, while guards Jim Paxson and Steve Colter each scored 16.

Portland led, 28-25, after one quarter, but Atlanta started the second period with an 8-0 run, and the Blazers never caught up.

The Blazers got within 52-51 in the third quarter before the 7-foot Willis and 6-10 reserve forward Scott Hastings asserted themselves inside to push Atlanta ahead, 62-53, midway through the period.

Portland could get no closer than seven the rest of the way.

San Antonio 113, Sacramento 94--Jeff Lamp, midway through a 10-day contract tryout, scored 16 points and the Spurs turned back a rally by the Kings in the final quarter at San Antonio.

Lamp hit 6 of 10 shots from the field and also grabbed five rebounds in relief of Mike Mitchell.

The Spurs built a 49-27 lead just before halftime, but Sacramento climbed back within 90-84 early in the fourth quarter behind Larry Drew, who scored 18 points, and Otis Thorpe, who added 17.

Steve Johnson scored 10 of his 15 points as San Antonio pulled away to a 101-88 lead with 4:19 left. Johnson added nine rebounds.

Six straight points by Johnson and three of guard Alvin Robertson’s eight steals helped San Antonio outscore the Kings, 23-8, over the final seven minutes.