Mutombo Can’t Be Blocked From Award

Despite winning the NBA’s defensive player of the year award for the second time in three years, Atlanta center Dikembe Mutombo admitted Thursday that overconfidence may have cost him a shot at his fourth consecutive shot-blocking title.

The 7-foot-2 Mutombo, who also won the defensive player award in 1994-95, received 60 of a possible 115 votes from a panel of writers and broadcasters.

“I thought I was going to win that (shot-blocking) title,” said Mutombo after practice as the Hawks prepared for today’s playoff opener against Detroit. “It became less important to me. Now, I can’t believe I missed it.”

Mutombo was edged by Shawn Bradley of Dallas, who averaged 3.40 blocks per game to Mutombo’s 3.34.

Mutombo was signed as a free agent to a five-year contract by the Hawks last summer. He helped the Hawks to a 56-26 record, keying a defense that was third in holding the opposition to 43.5 percent shooting from the field and fourth in points allowed at 89.4 per game.

Gary Payton of the Seattle SuperSonics, last year’s winner, finished second in the voting with 25 votes.

Notes

The Chicago Bulls, who lost three of their final four games to miss their second straight 70-win season, have not had their starting lineup intact with sixth man Toni Kukoc available since the 56th game on Feb. 27. … Portland Trail Blazers center Arvydas Sabonis has been bothered by a sore neck this week, but practiced Thursday and is listed as probable for tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers.