NBA ROUNDUP : Jazz Elbows the Pistons Aside

During the two seasons the Detroit Pistons ran roughshod through the NBA, they made many enemies.

As the Pistons disintegrate, the opponents are retaliating.

The Pistons are saying that Karl Malone went too far by elbowing Isiah Thomas on Saturday night at Salt Lake City.

Orlando Woolridge and Bill Laimbeer of the Pistons called on the league to punish Malone after his flagrant foul less than four minutes into the game created a wound above Thomas’s eye that required 40 stitches.

Malone was ejected, but Thomas returned for the fourth quarter as Utah, led by Jeff Malone, outlasted the Pistons, 102-100.

“The referees said there should be a major suspension,” Laimbeer said. “It was premeditated. The last time we played them Isiah had 44 points and showed up John Stockton. They (the Jazz) wanted to take Isiah out of the game.”

Bad feelings developed when Stockton, the Jazz playmaker, was selected for the U.S. Olympic team and Thomas wasn’t.

Dallas 99, Cleveland 97--As the Clippers proved Friday night, teams at home can sometimes overcome double-digit deficits. But it doesn’t happen often on the road.

That’s probably why the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had won all nine of their home games, were feeling good when they took an 80-66 lead during the fourth quarter at Richfield, Ohio.

But Rolando Blackman led a rally by Dallas and his driving scoop shot with 42 seconds left gave the Mavericks the victory.

Blackman had 14 points and Rodney McCray added 13 during the last quarter. The Cavaliers failed to score during the last two minutes.

New York 111, Boston 101--The Knicks, taking advantage of the absence of Larry Bird, used the shooting of Xavier McDaniel to remain the only unbeaten team at home (9-0).

Bird sat out his first game of the season because of a lower back problem the team said was unrelated to his off-season back surgery. It is not considered serious.

McDaniel was 16 for 20 from the field and had 37 points, his high as a Knick. Robert Parish led the Celtics with 26 points and 15 rebounds.

Chicago 113, Washington 100--The Bullets lost their seventh in a row and the defending champion Bulls continued to roll at Landover, Md.

The Bullets took a seven-point lead during the second quarter and didn’t lose it until Michael Jordan scored 12 of his 29 points during the third quarter.

Miami 121, Atlanta 101--The Heat shut down Dominique Wilkins, the No. 2 scorer in the league, at Miami to win its third in a row.

Wilkins, in one of his worst games, was only five for 16 and had 14 points.

Kevin Willis had 23 points and 17 rebounds for the Hawks.

Charlotte 109, New Jersey 102--Larry Johnson had 24 points and 15 rebounds and sparked a 15-0 run during the fourth quarter that carried the Hornets to their second consecutive road victory. They lost their first 11 on the road.

The Nets appeared on their way to victory with a 92-80 lead and less than nine minutes to play. But Johnson and Kendall Gill each scored four points in the spurt that gave Charlotte a 95-92 lead.

Indiana 129, Denver 108--Reggie Miller scored 26 of his 37 points during the first half at Indianapolis to help the Pacers take a 69-38 lead on the way to their third victory in a row. Rookie Dikembe Mutombo had 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Nuggets.

Philadelphia 104, Seattle 95--Charles Barkley had 28 points and helped the 76ers wear down the SuperSonics at Philadelphia. The SuperSonics were playing their fourth road game in five nights. But they led, 83-77, with 8:44 to play.

San Antonio 107, Houston 100--Sean Elliott scored half of his 20 points during the fourth quarter at Houston to lead the Spurs to their second victory in eight games.

Hakeem Olajuwon of the Rockets had 20 points and 12 rebounds, while David Robinson had 20 points and 14 rebounds for the Spurs.

Milwaukee 103, Minnesota 92--The Bucks took a 59-40 halftime lead at Milwaukee and coasted thereafter. The Timberwolves have lost seven in a row.

Portland 115, Sacramento 110--After losing three of their previous four games at home, the Trail Blazers found a team they could beat. The Kings have won two of their last 49 road games.

Golden State 128, Orlando 107--Rookie Billy Owens scored 24 points at Oakland and the Warriors handed the Magic its sixth consecutive defeat.