Trail Blazers Win, Help Carlesimo’s Cause

Despite two published reports that P.J. Carlesimo is on his way out, Portland Trail Blazer president Bob Whitsitt said Friday morning there are no immediate plans to replace the coach.

“P.J. has not been fired,” Whitsitt said during practice.

Later at Portland, the Trail Blazers beat the Utah Jazz, 115-105, as Kenny Anderson had 30 points and 12 assists.

The Trail Blazers, who ended a three-game losing streak, shot a season-high 58% from the field and were at 66% before going cold in the final seven minutes.

Isaiah Rider scored 26 points, including a spectacular 40-footer in the third quarter. Clifford Robinson and Rasheed Wallace added 20 apiece for the Blazers.

Chicago 126, Sacramento 108--Michael Jordan scored 35 points and Scottie Pippen added 29 as the Bulls rebounded from a rare loss to beat the Kings at Chicago.

Jordan and Pippen had 23 points apiece in the first half, when the Bulls rolled to a 72-42 lead. One night earlier, Chicago managed only 70 points in losing at Cleveland.

The Bulls, who shot 33% Thursday, shot 53% against Sacramento.

Seattle 96, Miami 95--Gary Payton scored 27 points and blocked Keith Askins’ three-point attempt with time running out, leading the SuperSonics at Miami.

The Heat, struggling in its third game without injured center Alonzo Mourning, had a last chance to pull even, but John Crotty missed the first of two free throws with the Heat behind by three and 4.6 seconds left.

Hersey Hawkins, who scored 22 points, then made two free throws to give Seattle a three-point edge.

Detroit 106, Boston 100--Grant Hill had 29 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists as the Pistons won at Boston, dealing the Celtics their 12th consecutive loss, one shy of the team record.

It was Hill’s sixth triple-double of the season.

Rick Fox’s rebound basket with less than a second remaining in regulation put Boston up by two points, but Lindsey Hunter’s layup off a halfcourt inbounds pass from Hill sent the game into overtime.

Golden State 117, New Jersey 108--Latrell Sprewell scored 37 points as the Warriors ended a four-game losing streak.

Sprewell, who also had eight rebounds and six assists, led a late first-half surge that helped the Warriors take a nine-point halftime lead at East Rutherford, N.J. He then added 12 points in the third quarter when Golden State took command.

Smith scored 20 points for the Warriors, and Todd Fuller had a career-high 18.

Kendall Gill led the Nets with 30 points. Chris Gatling, returning after sitting out two games because of an inner-ear infection, added 17.

Orlando 94, San Antonio 73--Penny Hardaway scored 20 points at Orlando as the Magic extended its season-high winning streak to six games.

The Magic remained unbeaten under Coach Richie Adubato, who replaced Brian Hill on Feb. 18 and had the word “interim” removed from his title before the game.

Hardaway was seven for 12 from the field and had five rebounds and eight assists.

Indiana 104, Milwaukee 85--Mark Jackson had a franchise-record 19 assists in his fourth game since being reacquired by Indiana.

Indiana pulled away in the second half, when the Bucks had only one field goal in nearly 11 minutes at Indianapolis.

Glenn Robinson led Milwaukee with 20 points.

New York 112, Denver 108--John Starks scored 23 points, including seven in overtime, as the weary Knicks had just enough to hold on at Denver.

Starks’ driving layup with 52 seconds left broke a 106-106 tie, and he and Allan Houston each made clinching free throws in the final 16 seconds to send Denver to its second consecutive overtime loss and sixth overall.

Philadelphia 104, Vancouver 100--Jerry Stackhouse scored 25 points as the 76ers won at Vancouver.

Philadelphia took the lead for good with seven minutes remaining. Vancouver pulled within two points with 9.3 seconds left before Stackhouse clinched it with two free throws.

The game matched two of the worst teams in the NBA. Philadelphia improved to 15-41, while Vancouver fell to 11-49.