Nuggets Run Win Streak To 2
With 2 minutes to go and the Denver Nuggets holding a 16-point lead, not a single fan headed for the exits at McNichols Arena.
Some were prepared to witness history - a rare Denver victory. The rest wanted to see how the home team would blow that advantage, just as it had squandered leads all season.
The Nuggets held on, winning back-to-back games for the first time in more than a year by beating the Portland Trail Blazers 92-82 Saturday night behind Johnny Newman’s 33 points.
The Nuggets, who snapped a 16-game losing streak by beating Vancouver two nights earlier for only their sixth win of the season, made it two in a row for the first time since Feb. 2 and 5, 1997 - a span of 99 games.
“Our first winning streak of the year? You’ve got to love it,” Denver coach Bill Hanzlik said.
Cory Alexander added 14 points and nine assists, and Anthony Goldwire and Dean Garrett each had 12 points for Denver.
Arvydas Sabonis had 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who shot only 65 percent (20 of 31) from the line.
“We played with so much life tonight,” Hanzlik said. “It was fun to coach the guys. We were active on defense and we had guys hustling. I’m going to savor this one because that’s (Portland) a good team.
“They’ve had some guys hurt, but we can’t feel sorry for anybody with the problems we’ve had this year. Newman was unbelievable - 33 points in 28 minutes.”
The visiting Washington Wizards halted Charlotte’s club-record 10-game winning streak, getting a bucket from Chris Webber with 13 seconds left for an 83-80 victory.
Webber finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds and the Wizards overcame a nearly 6-minute stretch without a field goal in the fourth quarter to pick up a victory for the third time in four games.
Milwaukee forward Tyrone Hill was carried off the court on a stretcher after falling hard on his back during the Bucks’ home game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Hill fell to the floor following a collision with other players as Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson drove to the basket in the first quarter.
Sixers spokesman Bill King II said Hill was hospitalized for an examination. There was no word on what his injury was, but Hill had “feeling in his arms and legs and could move his fingers and toes,” King said.
Whither thou goest, John?
John Starks was excused to leave the Knicks after their loss in Charlotte on Wednesday because of a family illness, but was unexpectedly absent when the team gathered for a shootaround Saturday morning.
Although coach Jeff Van Gundy told Starks to take as much time as he needed, the coach was upset that he had not received a phone call from his unpredictable shooting guard in regard to his whereabouts.