NBA ROUNDUP : Warriors Win, Gugliotta Has Shaky Debut

Latrell Sprewell scored a season-high 39 points, making 17 of 18 free throws, as the Golden State Warriors defeated the Utah Jazz, 119-115, on Saturday night at Oakland for their seventh victory in eight games.

Tom Gugliotta, acquired Thursday from the Washington Bullets along with three first-round picks in exchange for Chris Webber, was greeted by a standing ovation and “Welcome Tom” signs in his Warrior debut. He got into foul trouble early and had only three points and five rebounds in 21 minutes.

Karl Malone scored 32 points to lead Utah. Jeff Hornacek had 24 and John Stockton added 23.

Tim Hardaway scored 26 for the Warriors and Ricky Pierce scored 21.

Houston 109, Denver 101--Hakeem Olajuwon scored 26 points and reserve Sam Cassell scored a season-high 22 at Denver as the Rockets remained undefeated.

It was the sixth consecutive road victory and ninth overall for the Midwest Division leaders and defending NBA champions.

Reggie Williams scored 26 points for the Nuggets, who lost for the second game in a row.

Denver was only the second opponent to score more than 100 points against the Rockets.

Chicago 111, Dallas 85--Scottie Pippen scored 19 of his 36 points in the third quarter and the Bulls rode a 16-0 second-half run at Dallas.

The Bulls outscored Dallas, 34-15, in the third quarter to build on a 10-point halftime lead.

The victory was the 300th for Chicago Coach Phil Jackson (300-119).

Pippen added 14 rebounds and helped contain the Mavericks’ top scorer, Jamal Mashburn.

Mashburn was shut out in the third quarter and finished with 16 points, all in the first half and 12 under his average. Jim Jackson led Dallas with 18 points. Roy Tarpley, playing his second game after being out of the NBA for four seasons, added 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Seattle 120, Milwaukee 96--Gary Payton scored 18 of his season-high 25 points in the first half at Milwaukee as the SuperSonics ended a three-game losing streak.

Sam Perkins had 18 points and Shawn Kemp 17 for Seattle, which had six players score in double figures. The Bucks were led by Lee Mayberry, who scored a career-high 22 points. Johnny Newman and Glenn Robinson each scored 17.

San Antonio 109, Minnesota 101--Chuck Person scored 23 points against his former team, and Avery Johnson had 16 points and 15 assists at Minneapolis.

Johnson made all seven of his field-goal attempts, and David Robinson had 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Spurs ended a two-game losing streak.

Christian Laettner scored 22 points to lead the Timberwolves, who lost their ninth in a row at home dating to last season.

New York 92, Atlanta 79--Charles Smith made up for the absence of injured Patrick Ewing with 24 points and the Knicks held the Hawks scoreless for almost four minutes down the stretch at New York.

With leading scorer Ewing on the bench because of a sore right knee, the Knicks had a 26-point first-half lead cut to eight at the end of the third quarter, but their defense in the fourth quarter prevented a comeback.

Indiana 102, Charlotte 89--Derrick McKey scored 19 points as the Pacers continued to play well at Charlotte.

The victory was Indiana’s fifth in its last six games at the Charlotte Coliseum.

All 11 Pacers who played scored, and six were in double figures. Rik Smits had 16 points, and Dale Davis and Antonio Davis 14 each. Alonzo Mourning had 19 points for the Hornets.

NBA Notes

Denver forward LaPhonso Ellis is scheduled to have surgery Tuesday on his injured right knee, a team spokesman said.

The knee has not responded to rehabilitation and Ellis is expected to sit out the season. He injured his knee Sept. 11, sat out the preseason and was put on the injured list Nov. 1.