clarinews@clarinet.com (02/01/90)
SAN ANTONIO (UPI) -- Terry Cummings scored a career-high 52 points Wednesday night to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 129-95 triumph over the Charlotte Hornets, who were playing their first game under new head coach Gene Littles. About two hours before the game, Charlotte fired head coach Dick Harter and hired assistant coach Littles to finish the season. The Hornets are now 8-33, having lost 12 of their last 13 games, including six straight. The Spurs, on the other hand, have won eight straight and are off to their best start ever at 29-13, including the NBA's best home mark of 19-1. Cummings scored 16 of the Spur's first 21 points and finished the half with 23. Then, with the Hornets keying on him in the last two quarters, Cummings struck for 29 more points, including 18 in the final period, as the Spurs blew open a close game. David Robinson added 19 points and 15 rebounds for San Antonio, while Willie Anderson added 12 points and Frank Brickowski 10. Armon Gilliam led Charlotte with 19 points, Rex Chapman added 17, Kelly Tripucka 15 and J.R. Reid 11. San Antonio jumped out to a quick 25-13 lead, but the Hornets came back to take the lead in the second quarter, 36-35, on a Gilliam bucket. The Hornets led by 5 points before the Spurs scratched out a 57-55 halftime lead. The Spurs outscored Charlotte 32-15 in the third period to take an 89-70 lead entering the fourth quarter. San Antonio then opened the final period with an 18-4 run to take a 107-74 lead with 6:23 left to play.