NBA ROUNDUP : Nuggets Can’t Find a Defense for Kemp

The Denver Nuggets used a variety of defenses against Seattle’s Shawn Kemp on Thursday night. None of them worked.

Kemp had 21 points and 18 rebounds as the SuperSonics defeated the Nuggets, 106-100, at Denver.

“Shawn is playing well,� Seattle Coach George Karl said. “He’s got speed, quickness, power and he’s rebounding well. Shawn has seen a lot of looks and he still gets his numbers.�

Detlef Schrempf scored 27 points and Gary Payton had 20 for Seattle, which won for the eighth time in 10 games.

San Antonio 96, Sacramento 94--Chuck Person’s 16-foot jumper from the right wing at the buzzer at Sacramento lifted the Spurs to their franchise record-tying 13th consecutive victory.

Sacramento had tied the game with 5.6 seconds left on a three-point shot by Spud Webb.

David Robinson scored 29 points for the Spurs.

Phoenix 127, Washington 123--Charles Barkley scored 25 points, including seven in the final 1:19, as the Suns ended a two-game losing streak with a victory at Landover, Md. The game was originally scheduled for Dec. 6, but was postponed because of condensation on the court.

Houston 110, Golden State 102--Clyde Drexler scored 40 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter, and the Rockets rallied at Oakland in a battle of depleted teams.

Houston played without Hakeem Olajuwon and Vernon Maxwell, who are out with iron deficiency anemia. The Warriors played without Latrell Sprewell, who served the final game of a two-game team suspension; Chris Gatling, who was ill, and Victor Alexander, who is out for the rest of the season with a right ankle injury.

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NBA Notes

A steel rod was placed in Terrell Brandon’s right tibia, repairing a stress fracture that will keep the Cleveland guard out for the rest of the season.

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THE NBA: The Playoff Races

The two division winners, plus the teams with the six best records, qualify for postseason play: WESTERN CONFERENCE

Team W L GB GR San Antonio* 54 18 -- 10 Utah 53 21 2 8 Seattle** 52 21 2 1/2 9 Phoenix 52 22 3 8 Lakers 46 27 8 1/2 9 Houston 43 30 11 1/2 9 Portland 38 34 16 10 Sacramento 35 38 19 1/2 9 Denver 35 38 19 1/2 9 CONTENDER Dallas 32 39 21 1/2 11

*Midwest Division leader

**Pacific Division leader

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Team W L GB GR Orlando*** 54 19 -- 9 New York 48 25 6 9 Indiana**** 48 26 6 1/2 8 Charlotte 44 28 9 1/2 10 Chicago 40 33 14 9 Cleveland 39 34 15 9 Atlanta 36 37 18 9 Boston 30 43 24 9 CONTENDERS Miami 29 45 25 1/2 10 Milwaukee 28 45 26 9 New Jersey 27 46 27 9 Detroit 26 46 27 1/2 10

***Atlantic Division leader

****Central Division leader