clarinews@clarinet.com (FREDERICK WATERMAN, UPI Sports Writer) (01/13/90)
BOSTON (UPI) -- Willie Anderson scored 21 points Friday night and the San Antonio Spurs ended their 20-game losing streak to the Boston Celtics with 97-90 triumph, despite scoring just 9 points in the third quarter. San Antonio had not beaten the Celtics since Jan, 5, 1980. The Spurs, the most improved team in the NBA, have the league's second-best record, at 23-8, after posting a 21-61 mark last season. San Antonio held a 56-43 advantage at halftime and never lost the lead, despite hitting just 4 of 16 shots in the third quarter. The 9-point period was the Spurs' worst since joining the NBA in 1976. While playing in the ABA, San Antonio scored just 8 points against Kentucky in December 1973. Boston set its franchise-low for a quarter earlier this week, scoring only 6 points in the second period of Tuesday's game at New Jersey. Boston has lost its last five Friday home games. Larry Bird missed his fourth consecutive game due to a sprained ankle. Reggie Lewis led Boston with 22 points and Kevin McHale added 17. For San Antonio, which has won 11 of its last 13 games, David Robinson and Terry Cummings scored 18 apiece. The Spurs used a 15-2 run late in the second quarter to take the lead for good. With the score tied 39-39 at 6:37, the Spurs capitalized on five Celtics turnovers to hold a 54-41 advantage after Vernon Maxwell's breakaway dunk with 2:30 remaining. San Antonio, which is 17-0 in games it led at halftime, needed its 13-point advantage. The Celtics squandered their third-quarter opportunity by shooting just 42 percent, but were within 65-62 entering the fourth quarter. Boston pulled within a point on three occasions, the last time at 6:07 on McHale's rebound and lay-in. San Antonio then connected on all six foul-shot opportunities during a 10-2 run. Cummings' breakaway dunk at 3:09 provided an 87-78 San Antonio lead and Boston was never again closer than three points. San Antonio rookie Sean Elliott, who scored 8 points inthe first half, did not play after intermission due to a sprained ankle. The Celtics finished with 20 turnovers, San Antonio making 15 steals.