NBA ROUNDUP : Hawks’ Wilkins Suffers Tendon Injury, Is Sidelined for Season

A couple of hours after being selected to his seventh all-star game, the season came to an end for Dominique Wilkins.

Wilkins suffered a ruptured right Achilles’ tendon when he landed awkwardly after grabbing a rebound during the second quarter of the Hawks’ game against Philadelphia Tuesday night at Atlanta.

The 6-foot-7 Wilkins, in his 10th NBA season, crawled to the Atlanta bench in obvious pain. He was carried off on a stretcher, and team physician David Apple said it would take six to nine months for him to recover.

Wilkins was averaging 28.6 points, a point per game behind leader Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls. He was second on the Hawks in rebounds (7.1 per game) and assists (5).

Wilkins had scored eight points Tuesday night and needed only 25 more to reach 20,000.

“When I heard it pop, I knew what it was,” Wilkins said. “First thing on my mind was my season was over and I started thinking about next year.

“It hurts emotionally more than physically. When I was sitting in the emergency room, I just couldn’t believe it was me. I just have to do whatever I have to do to get back.”

Said Apple: “It was a fluke. Forces come together that exceed the strength of the tendon, and it pops.”

The Hawks rallied from a 16-point deficit to win, 110-109, on Blair Rasmussen’s 22-foot shot with 25 seconds to play. Wilkins, on crutches, returned to the Omni shortly before the winningbasket.

Portland 124, Golden State 116--After missing a free throw that would have won the game in regulation at Oakland, Clyde Drexler made up for it in overtime and the Trail Blazers moved into first place in the Pacific Division.

Drexler put Portland ahead to stay in the opening seconds of overtime, had two other baskets, assisted on two and grabbed two rebounds. He finished with 39 points.

The Trail Blazers appeared to have won in regulation when they led by 101-96 with 3:18 to play, but the Warriors made five shots in a row to take a 106-105 lead. Drexler was fouled with 17 seconds left, but missed the first free throw and only tied the score.

After the Warriors’ Tim Hardaway, who scored 35 points, missed a shot, Drexler had one more chance. But his desperate shot as the buzzer sounded bounced off the rim.

Detroit 100, Charlotte 95--Dennis Rodman is only 6-8, but he is a throwback to the great rebounders, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. He is also about the only bright spot in a mediocre season for the Pistons.

Rodman had 32 rebounds, most in the NBA in four years, during the Pistons’ overtime victory at Charlotte.

He turned one of his rebounds into the basket that put the Pistons ahead to stay.

Rodman was asked how many rebounds he could get in one game. “I don’t know,” he said, “but if I get 50, I want a new contract.”

Boston 98, Washington 87--Reggie Lewis, selected earlier in the day to his first all-star game, scored six of his 20 points early in the fourth quarter at Landover, Md., to give the Celtics a lead they never relinquished.

The Celtics, still without injured stars Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, held the Bullets to 34 points after Washington led at halftime, 53-50.

Pervis Ellison had 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Bullets, who have lost six in a row.

“It was a special victory on a special day for me,” Lewis said. “It would have been a sad day if we had lost on the day I was selected to the All-Star game.”

Seattle 102, Orlando 97--Eddie Johnson scored a season-high 39 points at Orlando, including four points in 14 seconds in the final minute to give new SuperSonic Coach George Karl his first victory after two losses.

Scott Skiles’ 15-footer gave the Magic a 97-96 lead with 57 seconds remaining. Then Johnson took over. He scored on a short jumper to put Seattle ahead with 45 seconds left, then stole the ball and made a layup.

Johnson scored 13 of the SuperSonics’ last 17 points.

Houston 111, Minnesota 102--Before losing their ninth in a row, the Timberwolves took a 41-25 lead in the middle of the second quarter at Houston.

Coach Don Chaney put Avery Johnson, a small guard he recently signed to a 10-day contract, in the game and that was the turning point. Johnson scored 22 points, 11 during the fourth quarter as the Rockets came from behind.

A three-point play by Johnson gave the Rockets their first lead, 90-89, with five minutes left.

The Rockets’ Hakeem Olajuwon had season highs in points (34) and rebounds (23).

Sacramento 124, New Jersey 118--Mitch Richmond had 23 points and Lionel Simmons 22 at Sacramento to lead the Kings to victory.

Derrick Coleman led all scorers with 33.