Suns Eclipse Mark In 107-Point Half
PHOENIX - Cotton Fitzsimmons got his 700th NBA coaching victory last night. It only seemed as if his Phoenix Suns got a matching number of points against the winless Denver Nuggets.
The Suns shattered the league record with 107 first-half points and set several other records en route to a 173-143 victory.
``We played them in the preseason and won 186-123 (on Oct. 11), so I wasn't concerned one way or the other about how many points we scored,'' said Fitzsimmons, the seventh coach to reach the 700 milestone.
Other records last night: 57 second-quarter points; 43 first-half field goals and 33 assists; most points in regulation (tie).
Spurs 111
Rockets 110
-- SAN ANTONIO - Rod Strickland's three-point play with 3.3 seconds left, topping off a 27-point effort, gave the Spurs the victory.
Bulls 105
Hornets 86
-- CHICAGO - Michael Jordan scored 23 points and Scottie Pippen 22 as Chicago won its first home game in three tries.
Knicks 93
Kings 88
-- SACRAMENTO - New York's Patrick Ewing had 24 points and Sacramento lost its 11th straight game - their worst streak since moving from K.C. six years ago.
Hawks 112
Clippers 94
-- LOS ANGELES - Glenn Rivers scored 12 of his 23 points on three-point shots as Atlanta handed L.A. its third straight lopsided defeat.
Cavaliers 104
76ers 88
-- RICHFIELD, Ohio - Larry Nance scored 23 points and inspired his teammates by blocking Manute Bol's shot during an 18-4 Cleveland run in the second quarter as the Cavaliers beat the 76ers.
Celtics 105
Nets 91
-- EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Larry Bird had four points, two assists and a steal to set up another basket as Boston outscored New Jersey 19-2 in the final 6:28 to win.
Heat 120
Pacers 105
-- MIAMI - Kevin Edwards scored 13 of his 30 points and Sherman Douglas contributed seven of his 14 assists in the third quarter as Miami pulled away.