Robinson Returns, Spurs Win

April 18, 1998 / 2:54 AM EDT / CBS/AP

The Seattle SuperSonics won't have the best record in the NBA. They might not even win the Pacific Division.

"Now we have to worry about winning the division," Hersey Hawkins said after the Sonics lost to the San Antonio Spurs 89-87 in their regular-season home finale Friday night. "If we hang our heads, we can slip to the third spot."

The defeat knocked Seattle into a tie for the division lead, but the Sonics can earn their third straight division title in their regular-season finale at Portland on Sunday even if the Los Angeles Lakers win at home against Utah.

Seattle would win in a tiebreaker because it beat the Lakers three out of four times.

"This loss gives Sunday a whole different look," Sam Perkins said.

"It puts us in a must-win situation in Portland," Seattle coach George Karl said. "That's pretty simple."

More simple than trying to stop David Robinson, who returned after a three-game absence, and Tim Duncan. Duncan had 31 points and 11 rebounds and Robinson, who was out after being knocked unconscious by Karl Malone's elbow and hurting his knee when he fell, scored 22.

Robinson sank five free throws and Duncan had a three-point play as San Antonio outscored Seattle 8-4 in the final 1:16 for the Spurs' second win over the SuperSonics in a week.

"It's a big win for us," Duncan said. "To come in here and beat a team like this helps your confidence. Will (Perdue) and David did a great job in taking (Vin) Baker out of his game."

Baker, Seattle's leading scorer, was held to nine points, 10 below his average.

Seattle lost its 21st game and dropped into a tie with the Lakers for the division lead.

It was just the third victory for the Spurs in 12 games against Seattle, Los Angeles and Utah the top three teams in the West.

Duncan put the Spurs ahead with 48 seconds left when he scored on a fastbreak layup and added a free throw after being fouled by Nate McMillan.

After Detlef Schrempf scored on a layup with 18.2 seconds to go, Robinson turned the ball over by inbounding into the backcourt. But Duncan blocked Gary Payton's shot, McMillan shot an airball from 14 feet and Robinson grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 1.2 seconds left and sank the first of two free throws for an 89-87 lead.

"Gary thought he could go by me and he did, but I stayed with him," Duncan said.

Robinson then purposely missed the second, and the ball bounced away and time expired before Seattle could call timeout.

Schrempf led the Sonics with 24 points and Gary Payton had 20.

After the Sonics took an 83-81 lead with 2:00 to go on two free throws by Payton, Robinson had two free throws with 1:51 to go and two more with 1:16 on the clock to tie the score a 85. Payton scored on a baseline jumper with 1:28 left.

In the third period, Payton's 3-pointer with 35.5 seconds left tied the score at 65 before Duncan scored on a layup with 20 seconds to go to put the Spurs ahead again.

The Spurs led 49-47 at halftime after being in front by a dozen, 36-24, with 1:46 gone in the second quarter on a driving layup by Avery Johnson. Greg Anthony's 3-pointer cut San Antonio's lead to 40-37 with 5:19 on the clock.

Baker scored on a pair of alley-oop dunks in the second quarter on passes from Greg Anthony and Payton.

Notes: Seattle's Jerome Kersey was ejected with 3:06 left in the opening quarter after receiving two technicals from referee Ken Mauer. Kersey was upset when a foul wasn't called after he drove to the basket and Mauer awarded the ball out of bounds to the Spurs. Kersey played three minutes. ... The Sonics already were without Dale Ellis, their ace 3-point shooter off the bench. Ellis was placed on the injured list Friday because of a strained abdominal muscle, but will be ready for the playoffs. ... Despite the loss, Seattle finished with a 35-6 record at the Key Arena for its third best homecourt record in history. ... It was Duncan's 58th double-double of the season. ... The Sonics and the Spurs went 2-2 this season. San Antonio won 99-84 at home last week.