Trail Blazers Edge Jazz in Overtime, 94-91

Buck Williams scored the go-ahead basket on an offensive rebound with 14.1 seconds to play in overtime, and Portland overcame poor free-throw shooting to defeat Utah, 94-91, Monday night at Portland, and stay alive in their first-round playoff series.

Utah leads the best-of-five series, 2-1, with Game 4 Wednesday night in Portland’s Rose Garden.

Williams grabbed a rebound of Arvydas Sabonis’ missed hook shot and put back a layup to give the Trail Blazers a 93-91 lead. It was only Williams’ second field goal of the game.

Utah had a chance to tie it, but John Stockton missed a 15-foot jumper and Portland’s Harvey Grant grabbed the rebound with 3.5 seconds left.

Rod Strickland, who scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half, was fouled and made one of two free throws with 2.7 seconds left to make it 94-91. With Jeff Hornacek on the bench after fouling out, the Jazz got the ball to Chris Morris, whose three-point try from three feet beyond the top of the key was off the mark at the buzzer.

Sabonis had 27 points and 12 rebounds, but missed two crucial free throws late in regulation.

The Trail Blazers recovered in overtime after missing four of six free throws in the final minute of regulation.

Clifford Robinson scored five of his 11 points in overtime for Portland. He was two for 11 from the field in regulation, including an ill-advised, errant three-point try with five seconds to go and the game tied at 83-83.

Stockton had 13 points and 11 assists for Utah, which shot only 38% from the field after shooting 59% in the first two games in Salt Lake City.

The Blazers were even colder Monday night, shooting just 34%.

Portland led, 37-31, at halftime. The 68 points tied the all-time NBA playoff low for the first two quarters.

Atlanta 90, Indiana 83--The Pacers have eliminated the Hawks from the playoffs the last two seasons. Now, with Reggie Miller sidelined because of an injury, Atlanta is on the verge of payback.

Atlanta took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five Eastern Conference series behind 26 points from Steve Smith and 24 from Christian Laettner.

“This is huge,� Hawk guard Craig Ehlo said. “Breaking the drought in Indianapolis in Game 1 [a 92-80 victory] was satisfactory, but it doesn’t compare to this. They got close, but we weathered a storm. I think we really believe in ourselves now.�

Laettner, appearing in his first playoff series, outplayed Indiana center Rik Smits and Mookie Blaylock tied a playoff record with eight steals, including two in the closing seconds.

“Mookie Blaylock is one of the most underrated point guards in the league,� Indiana coach Larry Brown said. “Laettner was great. He fought Rik in the post. He made pressure plays. And he kept rebounds alive.�

Blaylock also had 16 points and seven assists. The steals tied a playoff record shared by five players, including Tim Hardaway, who did it twice while playing for Golden State.

Derrick McKey and Smits scored 13 points apiece, Dale Davis and Workman had 12 apiece and Pierce 10 for Indiana.

The poor showing by Smits, who averaged 24 points in the first two games of the series, was especially crucial as he failed to take advantage of his five-inch, 30-pound advantage over Laettner.

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NBA Notes

Chicago Bull forward Dennis Rodman was fined $5,000 by the NBA for making an obscene gesture following his ejection during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal Sunday against the Miami Heat. . . . In agony with back spasms about 15 hours earlier, Michael Jordan walked into Chicago Bull headquarters Monday with a bounce in his step--and with confidence that he’ll be ready for tonight’s game. Jordan suffered the spasms late in the second quarter of Sunday’s playoff victory over the Miami Heat.