Spurs Ignore Obstacles, Extend Streak to 14

Had they needed them, the San Antonio Spurs had plenty of excuses.

They were fatigued, playing the second of back-to-back games, finishing a long trip, and they even had to fly a commercial airline because their charter company went bankrupt.

But instead of easing up, the Spurs got two key three-point baskets from Sean Elliott in an otherwise cold-shooting fourth quarter and outrebounded the NBA’s best rebounding team for a 95-88 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Monday at East Rutherford, N.J.

It was the 14th victory in a row for the Spurs, one short of the franchise record.

The Spurs shot four for 17 in the fourth quarter and 37% overall, but Elliott had 35 points and David Robinson had 17 rebounds and 19 points.

Utah 103, Dallas 86--Karl Malone scored 29 points, surpassing 23,000 for his career, to lead the Jazz and send the Mavericks to their 11th consecutive loss.

Scott Brooks led Dallas with 16 points.

Portland 94, Philadelphia 71--Arvydas Sabonis had 18 points and 15 rebounds in less than three quarters as the Trail Blazers beat the 76ers at Portland’s Rose Garden. The defeat extended the 76ers’ losing streak to eight.