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Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 19, 2001
Orlando loses in overtime
DALLAS -- Dirk Nowitzki had a career-best 38 points, including a running slam at the start of overtime that put Dallas ahead for the first time, and the Mavericks overcame a 22-point deficit and beat the Magic 115-106 Thursday night.
Orlando led 37-15 after the first quarter and was up 93-82 with 1:46 left. Darrell Armstrong could have secured the victory with 5.8 seconds to play, but missed two free throws.
Michael Finley's buzzer-beating three-pointer tied it at 99 and forced overtime. Finley, who scored 21, also banked in a long three-pointer with 10 seconds to play.
This tied the second-biggest comeback in Dallas history and ended a four-game home losing streak.
For the Magic, the loss ended a three-game winning streak, the last of which featured a 20-point comeback to beat Chicago.
BLAZERS 85, HEAT 74: Bonzi Wells had 13 of his 22 points in a sensational first quarter and Rasheed Wallace added 18 for Portland. Eddie Jones had 20 points to lead Miami, which lost its fourth straight on the road.
PISTONS 116, BULLS 110: Jerry Stackhouse won a shootout with Ron Mercer, and visiting Detroit ended its six-game losing streak.
Stackhouse, the NBA's leading scorer, scored 36, making 9 of 25 field goals and hitting all 16 of his free throws. He had 11 assists.
Joe Smith added 23 points for the Pistons. Elton Brand had 25 points and 14 rebounds for the Bulls.
PACERS 84, HAWKS 76: For three quarters, Indiana Pacers didn't look like itself.
Jalen Rose wasn't getting enough shots, Reggie Miller wasn't hitting enough shots, and the Pacers were in a giant scoring drought.
Then, in the fourth quarter, Rose and Miller came to the rescue -- again.
Rose had 14 of his 29 points in the final 12 minutes, and Miller converted a critical three-pointer as the Pacers pulled away from visiting Atlanta.
ROCKETS 112, WARRIORS 104: Cuttino Mobley scored a career-high 41 points, and Walt Williams had 14 of his 22 in the second half as Houston got its 11th straight win in Oakland. Houston is the NBA's only team with a winning road record (11-9) and a losing home record. The Warriors lost their sixth straight.
BLAZERS: Scottie Pippen missed his sixth straight game with a sore right elbow, but said he probably will be ready to play Saturday against the Kings.
Pippen has tendinitis in his shooting elbow and can't straighten it.
BULLS: Center Michael Ruffin was placed on the injured list because of a broken bone in his right hand. The team activated center Dalibor Bagaric.
HAWKS: The team signed guard Sean Colson to a 10-day contract.
MAGIC: The team signed guard James Robinson to a second 10-day contract.
SONICS: Gary Payton was suspended from tonight's game against Minnesota at the Key Arena, ending his streak of 356 consecutive starts.
The Sonics said the suspension was for "conduct detrimental to the team" after Seattle's 89-80 home loss to Phoenix on Wednesday night. During a fourth-quarter timeout, Payton and teammate Ruben Patterson had an angry confrontation.
The team also signed forward Sean Marks to a 10-day contract.