Payton, SuperSonics Find Some Magic in Orlando

Gary Payton knows when to pick his spots.

Seattle’s point guard scored 20 of his season-high 32 points in the second half and the SuperSonics stopped the Magic’s six-game winning streak with a 109-101 victory Sunday at Orlando.

Shawn Kemp had 17 points and Hersey Hawkins added 16 for the Pacific Division leaders, who pulled away in the fourth quarter for their ninth victory in 10 games.

“I step up when I have to step up,” said Payton, who was 12 for 20 from the field and had seven assists and four rebounds.

The loss was the first for Orlando under Coach Richie Adubato, who replaced Brian Hill on Feb. 18 and entered the game looking for his third victory in a week against teams sporting some of the best records in the league.

Miami 79, San Antonio 72--San Antonio produced its lowest point total of the season for the second consecutive game, and the Heat came up with their best defensive effort since Alonzo Mourning’s injury at Miami.

The injury-ravaged Spurs’ previous low of 73 points came in a defeat Friday at Orlando. They lost their fifth game in a row.

Charlotte 108, Minnesota 96--Glen Rice continued his torrid scoring with 39 points as the Hornets won for the seventh time in eight games, defeating the Timberwolves at Minneapolis.

Anthony Mason narrowly missed a triple-double with 15 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists in 45 minutes for Charlotte, which ended its five-game trip with four victories.

Utah 93, Vancouver 86--Bryon Russell scored 20 points, including three three-point baskets, as the Jazz retained at least a share of first place in the Western Conference at Vancouver.

Karl Malone, who shot seven for 16 from the floor, finished with 18 points and had his streak of games scoring 30 or more points stopped at six by the Grizzlies.

Detroit 82, Atlanta 75--Grant Hill had 23 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds as the Pistons defeated the Hawks at Auburn Hills, Mich.

The Pistons, who have won nine of their last 10, trailed going into the fourth quarter. But they held the Hawks scoreless for over seven minutes.

New York 90, Cleveland 82--Despite being banged up and tired after a nine-day road trip, the Knicks got 28 points from Allan Houston and defeated the Cavaliers at New York.

The Knicks led by 19 midway through the third period, but needed consecutive baskets from Larry Johnson and a jumper from Houston in the closing minutes to turn back a Cleveland rally.

Phoenix 109, Dallas 108--Jason Kidd returned to Dallas and assisted on Wayman Tisdale’s game-winning layup at the buzzer as the Suns rallied from a 27-point third quarter deficit and defeated the Mavericks in overtime.

With the clock winding down, Kidd drove the lane and slipped a pass to Tisdale, who defeated the buzzer for the Suns’ third victory in four games.

Portland 112, Philadelphia 95--Gary Trent and Kenny Anderson scored 20 points apiece as the Trail Blazers won at Portland.

Trent shot nine of 13 and Anderson was nine of 14 for Portland, which had six players score in double figures. Anderson also had nine assists.