Bucks’ Baker, Robinson Becoming A Dynamic Duo

You think of great duos in the NBA and it’s Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, the Bulls stars whose combined 50 points a game is the NBA’s most potent 1-2 punch.

One also has to consider Houston’s Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley, both averaging more than 20 points and nine rebounds.

Other top duos?

Seattle’s Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton, both averaging more than 21 points, with Kemp in the top 10 in rebounding and Payton in the top 10 in assists.

Washington’s Chris Webber and Juwan Howard, averaging a combined 37.3.

Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson and Jerry Stackhouse, averaging more than 40 a game combined.

Minnesota’s Tom Gugliotta and Kevin Garnett, averaging about 36 a game.

Shaquille O’Neal and Eddie Jones of the Lakers, averaging a combined 42 a game.

And Utah’s incomparable Karl Malone and John Stockton, averaging 40 points.

But a tandem that has moved into that company is Milwaukee’s Vin Baker and Glenn Robinson now that Robinson finally is putting his problems behind him. Combined, they average 45.6 per game, second to Jordan and Pippen.

Taking out a four-point effort when he played little because of a sprained ankle, Robinson is averaging 30.5 points the last two weeks. On Saturday, Robinson was the star with 24 points and a season-high 13 rebounds as the Bucks defeated visiting Orlando 103-85.

Mavericks talking trade

The Dallas Mavericks have talked with the Indiana Pacers about Jamal Mashburn for Derrick McKey. The Mavericks also want Duane Ferrell and a No. 1 pick. And Mashburn is ready to go.

Also in Dallas, Jason Kidd is out injured, but his agent, Aaron Goodwin, told the New York Post’s Peter Vecsey that Kidd has lost interest. “He’s not missing layups because he’s all of a sudden a stiff,” Goodwin said. “It’s because his heart isn’t in it. His game is running and they’ve got him walking.”

Could Kidd be available next?

Have ball, will shoot

Neither of Philadelphia’s two high-scoring guards, Allen Iverson and Jerry Stackhouse, is shooting 40 percent, and it appears to be wearing on their teammates. Atlanta’s Christian Laettner said that during a game against the 76ers last week: “Their guys were complaining on the court about Stackhouse, that he never passed the ball. (Clarence) Weatherspoon’s complaining and (Derrick) Coleman’s complaining and Scott Williams is complaining. And I’m thinking, ‘What do they do when (injured) Iverson is out there?”’

Scoreboard

Patrick Ewing scored 30 points and the Knicks followed coach Jeff Van Gundy’s verbal trashing of the Pistons with one of their most spirited games of the year, a 95-92 victory over Detroit on Saturday night.

New York led for the final 47 minutes and avenged its worst defeat in 10 seasons, a 112-78 loss last Wednesday in Allan Houston’s first game against his former teammates.

Houston was booed every time he touched the ball in that game and scored only two points - a statistic the Pistons left on the scoreboard after the rest of the lights had been turned off.

“I could not believe the lack of class shown by the Detroit organization at the end of the game, leaving Allan’s points on the scoreboard. They showed as little class as they possibly could,” Van Gundy said in a pregame talk with reporters, who were summoned to the arena early by the team’s publicity staff.

Richmond soars

At Sacramento, Calif., Mitch Richmond capped a 37-point game by scoring the winning points on an alley-oop with two-tenths of a second remaining in overtime as Sacramento defeated Portland 101-99. Richmond made a bank shot on an inbounds pass thrown by Billy Owens.

Streaks come and go

Atlanta’s 98-93 loss at Charlotte snaps the Hawks’ winning streak at five games.

Kendall Gill scored 13 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter and hit the winning basket as New Jersey snapped a five-game losing streak with a 101-100 victory over Boston, keeping the Celtics winless on the road in 10 games this season.

Miami held Houston to eight points in the fourth quarter and won its 11th consecutive road game, 86-66.

San Antonio has a season-high three-game winning streak after a 101-88 home win over Phoenix.

Roster moves

The Miami Heat placed forward-guard Dan Majerle on the injured list because of a lower back strain and activated forward Martin Muursepp.

The slumping New Jersey Nets signed swingman Lloyd Daniels to an NBA minimum contract.