A Roundup of the Weeks Dec. 18-Jan. 1

Compiled by Albert Kim

January 08, 1990

PRO BASKETBALL—The Lakers closed out the 1980s with victories over the Kings (104-102) and the Warriors (130-111), which gave them a 584-222 record for the decade, tops in the NBA. (The runner-up Celtics were 580-230.) Los Angeles begins the '90s with a league-best 21-6 record for this season and a three-game Pacific Division lead over the Trail Blazers, who lost three in a row before beating Dallas in triple overtime 144-140. In the Atlantic Division, the first-place Knicks ran their winning streak to nine games at the expense of the Heat (100-94), the Nets (106-104) and the Magic (113-107). Though they were on the road, the Celtics also went 3-0 and moved into second place, 3� games back of New York. Boston edged the Clippers 112-111 when Larry Bird sank two free throws with .2 of a second left, then beat the Kings 115-112 in overtime—despite former Celtic Danny Ainge's 39 points—and Seattle 96-89. The Spurs, who won only 21 games last season, remained the pacesetters in the Midwest Division with a 19-7 record. Terry Cummings scored 32 points as San Antonio overpowered the Hornets 107-82, and David Robinson had a career-high 34 in a 107-97 victory over the Bullets. The Spurs finished the week with a 101-97 loss to the Bulls, who were locked in a dogfight in the Central, the most hotly contested division in the league. Chicago also defeated the Timberwolves 112-99 and Washington 117-112 in OT. But the Pacers had a perfect week, too, sweeping the Magic home and away and then beating the Rockets and the Hawks to move into a first-place tie with the Bulls.