Sixers Consider Shake-Up

NBA

Stuck with the worst record in the NBA, the Philadelphia 76ers have been talking to former Boston Celtics coach Chris Ford.

Ford was in town Sunday to talk to 76ers officials amid growing speculation he will replace John Lucas, who is in his second season of coaching the team.

“I’m not supposed to say anything,” Ford said. “I can’t make any comments.”

Owner Harold Katz, who complained of “undisciplined” basketball by his team, would not comment Sunday on Ford’s visit except to confirm the former Villanova stand-out had been in town.

The 76ers have a 7-30 record after losing to San Antonio 118-88 Sunday.

“John’s status is John’s status, he’s in that (locker) room,” Katz said before the game. “He’s the coach, isn’t he? As long as he’s the coach, we’re not going to talk about it.”

Lucas, the team’s coach, general manager and vice president of basketball operations, spoke of the 76ers in the past tense.

“Whatever changes are made,” he said, “somebody had to stop the bleeding.”

Lucas and Katz used to confer as often as twice a day. Lately, they have not spoken at all, Lucas said. When Lucas passed Katz in a Spectrum hallway on Sunday, the owner failed to meet the coach’s eyes.

Reeves passes physical

Guard Khalid Reeves, sent from Charlotte to New Jersey as part of the trade that included Kenny Anderson, completed and passed his physical, the last step in finalizing the four-player deal.

The Nets asked the NBA Saturday for more time for team doctors to examine Reeves’ injured left ankle, delaying completion of Friday’s trade that sent Anderson and Gerald Glass to the Hornets for Reeves and Kendall Gill. Under league rules, no player involved in a trade can play until all pass physicals conducted by their new teams.

Around the NBA

New York police are investigating allegations that Knicks forward Anthony Mason punched a man during an after-hours melee in an Upper West Side bar early Monday morning… . Houston mayor Bob Lanier said he is negotiating with the Rockets to build a new arena for the NBA team near the downtown George Brown Convention Center.

Hawks 105, Rockets 96

Atlanta

Former Washington State University standout Craig Ehlo scored 20 of his season-high 25 points in the final 14:30 as Atlanta downed Houston for its eighth straight victory.

The winning streak is the longest for the Hawks since putting together a 14-game string two years ago. It’s also the second longest current streak in the NBA behind Chicago’s 11-game string.

Houston (96) - Horry 2-4 0-0 6, Brown 4-6 0-2 8, Olajuwon 9-14 2-3 20, Drexler 8-16 6-6 23, Recasner 0-4 0-0 0, Cassell 4-14 2-2 11, Breaux 1-2 0-0 3, Bryant 3-5 1-2 7, James 6-8 0-0 16, Chilcutt 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 38-74 11-15 96.

Atlanta (105) - Augmon 5-11 0-0 10, Long 4-10 5-8 14, Lang 3-11 1-2 7, Smith 9-18 7-10 26, Blaylock 7-22 3-3 20, Ehlo 9-13 3-5 25, Henderson 0-0 0-0 0, Webb 0-0 0-0 0, Bullard 1-2 1-1 3. Totals 38-87 20-29 105.

Houston 22 24 21 29 - 96

Atlanta 25 20 28 32 - 105

3-Point goals-Hou 9-23 (James 4-6, Horry 2-4, Breaux 1-1, Cassell 1-4, Drexler 1-5, Brown 0-1, Recasner 0-2), Atl 9-22 (Ehlo 4-6, Blaylock 3-11, Long 1-1, Smith 1-3, Bullard 0-1). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Hou 50 (Olajuwon 9), Atl 48 (Blaylock 10). Assists-Hou 23 (Horry, Drexler 5), Atl 20 (Blaylock 9). Total fouls-Hou 26, Atl 17. Technicals-Hou coach Tomjanovich, Cassell, Hou illegal defense, Lang, Ehlo, Atl illegal defense 2. A-14,565 (16,365).

Heat 96, Spurs 89

Miami

Alonzo Mourning had 25 points and Miami held San Antonio without a basket in the final 7 minutes as the Heat beat a team with a winning record for the first time since Nov. 18.

San Antonio (89) - Elliott 6-15 10-11 25, Perdue 4-6 2-4 10, Robinson 8-13 9-11 25, Del Negro 4-7 2-2 10, Johnson 3-10 2-2 8, Person 3-8 1-1 8, Lohaus 1-3 0-0 3, Rivers 0-4 0-0 0, Alexander 0-0 0-0 0, Herrera 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-66 26-31 89.

Miami (96) - Owens 4-11 0-0 8, Willis 4-10 0-1 8, Mourning 9-15 7-8 25, Chapman 10-22 1-1 25, Coles 3-12 5-6 11, Thomas 3-6 0-0 6, Askins 4-12 0-2 11, Myers 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 38-91 13-18 96.

San Antonio 30 24 23 12 - 89

Miami 26 22 17 31 - 96

3-Point goals-San Antonio 5-14 (Elliott 3-6, Lohaus 1-2, Person 1-3, Rivers 0-1, Johnson 0-2), Miami 7-26 (Chapman 4-12, Askins 3-7, Coles 0-5, Mourning 0-1, Myers 0-1). Fouled out-Robinson. Rebounds-San Antonio 42 (Perdue 12), Miami 58 (Owens 14). Assists-San Antonio 23 (Johnson 11), Miami 21 (Coles 7). Total fouls-San Antonio 22, Miami 24. Technicals-Elliott, Mourning, San Antonio assistant coach Egan, Miami coach Riley, San Antonio illegal defense. A-14,589 (15,200).

Grizzlies 100, Bucks 92

Milwaukee

Blue Edwards scored 18 points and led an inspired effort by four former Milwaukee players as Vancouver snapped a 16-game road losing streak.

Vancouver (100) - Avent 2-7 0-0 4, King 4-7 0-0 8, Reeves 7-13 8-13 22, Anthony 7-10 2-2 18, B.Edwards 7-13 2-2 18, D.Edwards 2-7 2-4 6, Murdock 2-6 2-2 6, Gattison 1-2 0-2 2, Scott 2-5 2-2 7, Mobley 3-5 3-7 9. Totals 37-75 21-34 100.

Milwaukee (92) - Baker 6-15 12-16 24, Robinson 6-12 4-4 16, Benjamin 2-4 2-2 6, Douglas 8-15 0-0 16, Newman 5-11 0-0 10, Cummings 4-5 4-4 12, Keys 0-2 0-0 0, Mayberry 0-2 0-0 0, Conlon 4-5 0-0 8, Respert 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 35-72 22-26 92.

Vancouver 27 19 25 29 - 100

Milwaukee 27 22 23 20 - 92

3-Point goals-Van 5-10 (Anthony 2-3, B.Edwards 2-4, Mobley 1-2, Murdock 0-1), Mil 0-9 (Douglas 0-1, Baker 0-2, Robinson 0-2, Newman 0-2, Mayberry 0-2). Fouled out- Avent. Rebounds-Van 50 (Reeves 11), Mil 42 (Baker 9). Assists-Van 26 (Anthony 12), Mil 16 (Douglas 6). Total fouls- Van 24, Mil 29. Technicals-Benjamin, Mil coach Dunleavy, Van illegal defense 2. A-13,488 (18,633).