NBA Roundup : Phoenix Suns Rise to Defeat Warriors

The Phoenix Suns bounced back with a vengeance Sunday night at Oakland from the most humiliating loss in club history.

Saturday night at the Forum, the Suns gave up a record-tying 89 points in the first half to the sizzling Lakers and were trounced, 155-118.

It didn’t appear the Suns had recovered from the disaster when they fell 15 points behind the Golden State Warriors. They seemed on their way to a fifth consecutive defeat.

But unheralded rookie Jeff Hornacek came off the bench to direct a furious rally, scored six clutch points in the final two minutes and the Suns scored a stunning, 104-101, victory.

With Joe Barry Carroll and Larry Smith dominating the boards, the Warriors breezed to a 56-41 halftime lead. The Suns weren’t shooting well and were never getting a second opportunity.

Veterans Alvin Adams and Walter Davis fired up the Suns at the start of the third quarter. Adams had 10 points and Davis 6 in a 27-12 spurt that brought the Suns into a 68-68 tie.

Chris Mullin and Carroll steadied the Warriors and they seemed to have things under control when they took am 86-74 lead four minutes into the final period.

Once again the Suns fought back. They cut the lead to 89-87, then, after a Carroll basket, scored the next eight points, the last four by Adams.

Hornacek took control of the Suns offense. Despite a three-point basket by Greg Ballard and a layup by Sleepy Floyd, his two jumpers kept the Suns on top. With five seconds left he was fouled and made both free throws to end Warrior hopes.

Until he took charge of this one, Hornacek, a 6-3 guard from Iowa State, had played only about 16 minutes, usually in lost causes and had only averaged five points. He was the 46th player chosen in the draft last spring.

Portland 128, Sacramento 111--Clyde Drexler scored 16 of his 26 points in the third quarter at Portland to help the Trail Blazers gain an easy victory over the Kings.

It was the 14th win in the last 18 games. The Blazers, except when the Lakers come around, are almost invincible at home. The Lakers overwhelmed them by 36 points Thursday night, but the Trail Blazers are 15-3 at home.

Coach Phil Johnson blamed the loss on the Kings’ lack of rebounding. “They really hurt us on the offensive boards. Steve Johnson really hurt us,” he said.

Johnson, also praised by his coach, Mike Schuler, had 20 points and 13 rebounds.

It was the sixth loss in a row for the Kings, who dropped into a tie with San Antonio for last place in the Midwest Division. The Blazers remained 5 1/2 games behind the Lakers in the Pacific Division.