Jazz win 10th straight game by beating Detroit

Monday, March 16, 1998 | 9:10 a.m.

If the Utah Jazz keep playing like this, they could get back to the NBA Finals.

Karl Malone scored 28 points and Jeff Hornacek added 22 as the Jazz won their 10th straight game, 109-98 over Detroit on Sunday.

"That's a hell of a basketball team," Pistons coach Alvin Gentry said.

The Jazz, who have won eight in a row on the road, took control with a 17-4 second-half spurt that put them ahead 72-57. Malone scored eight points in the run.

"I really don't think we played badly. They just played better," said Grant Hill, who led Detroit with 29 points. "That was a tough game because any time you make a mistake, they make you pay."

Utah improved to 47-16, one game behind Seattle for the best record in the NBA. Last season, the Jazz finished with a franchise-best 64-18 mark and went on to reach the finals, where they lost a six-game series to the Chicago Bulls.

Heat 79, Magic 76

At Orlando, Voshon Lenard hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer and Miami held the Magic without a field goal in the final 7:45.

The game ended in confusion when the officials appeared to wave off the winning basket. They huddled, though, and concluded that Miami had inbounded the ball with 1.1 seconds left and Lenard, who dribbled before setting himself for a wide-open 26-footer, got the shot off before time expired.

Lakers 119, Grizzlies 110

At Vancouver, Robert Horry scored a season-high 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers won their sixth straight.

Shaquille O'Neal scored 24 points and Rick Fox added 20 as the Lakers closed within three games of first-place Seattle in the Pacific Division. Bryant Reeves led the Grizzlies with 24 points.

Hawks 93, Celtics 77

At Atlanta, Dikembe Mutombo had 21 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks as the Hawks beat the Celtics.

Alan Henderson and Tyrone Corbin each added 17 points as Atlanta improved to 7-0 on Sundays. Antoine Walker led Boston with 16 points.

Pacers 91, Knicks 86

At New York, Mark Jackson scored half of his season-high 28 points in the fourth quarter as Indiana defeated the Knicks.

Rik Smits added 22 points and 11 rebounds as the Pacers won on the road for the 21st time this season, guaranteeing a winning record away from home for the first time in the franchise's NBA history.

Suns 100, Mavericks 90

At Phoenix, Jason Kidd got his 18th career triple-double with 20 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists as the Suns clinched a playoff berth.

Antonio McDyess and Danny Manning each scored 17 points for Phoenix, which won its fourth straight game to reach the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season.

Raptors 100, Warriors 98, OT

At Oakland, Doug Christie scored 24 points and Toronto overcame an 11-point deficit in the final 3:42 of regulation to snap a six-game losing streak.

Marcus Camby had 23 points and 16 rebounds for Toronto, while Clarence Weatherspoon had 18 points and 20 rebounds for Golden State.

Trail Blazers 103, Clippers 92

At Portland, Arvydas Sabonis had 28 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Trail Blazers. Isaiah Rider added 26 points for the Blazers, who have beaten the Clippers 12 straight times in Portland.

The Clippers were led by Ike Austin's 18 points and nine rebounds.