Warriors Finally Get Taste of Victory Against Seattle

Clarence Weatherspoon scored 12 second-half points, including a decisive dunk with 1:14 remaining, as the Golden State Warriors stunned the Seattle SuperSonics, 98-91, Thursday night at Oakland.

The Warriors broke a 12-game overall and eight-game home losing streak to the SuperSonics, beating them in Oakland for the first time since a 121-100 victory on Jan. 14, 1994. No players on the current Warrior roster were on that team.

The loss dropped Seattle one game behind the Chicago Bulls for the best record in the league. They also are percentage points behind Utah for the top spot in the Western Conference and only 1 1/2 games ahead of the Lakers in the Pacific Division.

Golden State stretched a 71-65 lead after three quarters to 83-70 after Todd Fuller’s turnaround jumper with 7:45 remaining.

Seattle cut it to 92-87 after two Gary Payton free throws with 2:20 to play, but the Warriors sliced over a minute off the clock on their next possession, extended by a kicking violation on Seattle.

After Jason Caffey missed a desperation jumper with the shot clock about to expire, Jimmy Jackson got the long-bounce offensive rebound and dished a no-look pass to Weatherspoon, whose dunk gave the Warriors a 94-87 lead with 1:14 to play.

Jackson had 19 points, nine assists and seven rebounds to lead the Warriors, who ended a nine-game losing streak. Donyell Marshall scored 16 points with 15 rebounds and a career-high seven assists. Weatherspoon had 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Golden State outrebounded Seattle, 58-38, including 23 on the offensive end.

Portland 108, Vancouver 102--The Trail Blazers clinched their 16th consecutive playoff berth as Arvydas Sabonis had 24 points and eight rebounds at Portland, Ore.

The Trail Blazers, who stopped a three-game skid, have the longest current postseason streak in the NBA.

Lee Mayberry’s three-point basket cut Portland’s lead to 103-102 with 18.7 seconds remaining. Walt Williams, who had 15 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, sank two free throws a second later to put Portland ahead, 105-102.

Mayberry missed a three-point shot with 13 seconds to go and Brian Grant made one free throw to put the game out of reach with 11 seconds left. The Trail Blazers’ last eight points came on free throws.

The loss wasted a 31-point performance by Bryant Reeves. Shareef Abdur-Rahim added 19 points for the Grizzlies, who have lost 23 of their last 26.

Cleveland 97, Toronto 96--Shawn Kemp scored 19 points and Marcus Camby missed a last-second putback as the Cavaliers boosted their playoff hopes at Toronto.

With Toronto leading, 96-95, and 17.5 seconds left, Camby’s inbound pass was intercepted by Wesley Person, who passed to Derek Anderson. The Raptors fouled Anderson, who made both free throws.

Toronto got the ball back with 11 seconds left, but Doug Christie’s jump shot bounced off the rim and Camby was unable to put the rebound in as the final horn sounded.

Charlotte 94, Milwaukee 80--Glen Rice scored eight consecutive points as part of a 12-0 run by the Hornets to open the fourth quarter at Charlotte, N.C.

Charlotte trailed, 66-65, when Rice made a three-point shot from the right wing with 10:29 left, and then added another from the top of the key 21 seconds later to give the Hornets a 71-66 lead.

Rice then scored on a fastbreak dunk and Bobby Phills converted a layup as the Hornets took a 75-66 lead with 8:32 left. The Bucks could get no closer than four points the rest of the way.

The Hornets have won five in a row and nine out of 10.

NBA Notes

The Sacramento Kings fined reserve center Olden Polynice and suspended him for two games for engaging in a heated argument with Coach Eddie Jordan during Wednesday night’s game against the Lakers. . . . Vancouver guard Sam Mack has a broken bone in his left foot and is out for the remainder of the season, the team said.