A Roundup Of The Week March 19-25

PRO BASKETBALL—The 76ers took the lead in the Atlantic Division by 1� games with a perfect 4-0 week, while the Knicks lost 3� games in the standings, slipping from a first-place tie into third, two games behind the second-place Celtics. In a 115-110 Boston victory at Madison Square Garden, New York's Patrick Ewing, who averaged 30 points per game in the Knicks' losses earlier in the week to the Magic (121-118) and the Hornets (106-93), scored a career-high 51 points. But Boston, winner of five games in a row for the first time in two seasons, outscored New York 22-4 during the seven minutes Ewing was out of the game. The Knicks, who ran their losing streak to six games, also lost top rebounder Charles Oakley for six weeks with a fracture of the left hand, injured in the game against Orlando. In the Midwest Division, the Spurs had four wins, beating the Suns 113-102, the SuperSonics 128-106, the Trail Blazers 107-106 and the Central Division-leading Pistons 105-98. But San Antonio, which was paced by center David Robinson with 126 points, 52 rebounds and 24 blocks for the week, failed to gain any ground on the first-place Jazz, which also had a 4-0 week. The Pacific Division-leading Lakers reached the 50-win milestone for the 11th straight season, with a 110-102 victory over the Clippers. Thanks to a 1-3 week by Detroit—which lost to the Rockets, the Spurs and the Mavs and beat the Bucks—the Lakers, who also defeated Charlotte 109-97 and Seattle 116-94, found themselves with the league's best record. During halftime of the Charlotte game, the Lakers honored Kareem Abdul-Jabbar by retiring his number, 33. Phoenix forward Tom Chambers became the 14th player in league history to get 60 or more points in a game; he scored 60 in the Suns' 121-95 rout of Seattle.

BOWLING—JIM PENCAK defeated John Mazza 247-209 to win his second straight PBA event and $31,000, in North Olmsted, Ohio.

CROSS-COUNTRY—At the world championships, in Aix-les-Bains, France, LYNN JENNINGS of the U.S. beat Albertina Dias of Portugal and Yelena Romanova of the Soviet Union by 12 seconds to win the women's title (page 13). Jennings ran the 6-km course in 19:21. In the men's competition, KHALID SKAH of Morocco finished first, nipping Moses Tanui and Julius Korir, both of Kenya, at the tape. Skah ran the 12.2-km course in 34:21.

GOLF—ROBERT GAMEZ capped a final-round 66 with an eagle on the 18th hole and won a PGA Tour event in Orlando, Fla., by one stroke over Greg Norman. Gamez, a Tour rookie who shot a 14-under-par 274, earned $162,000.

Pat Bradley defeated Ayako Okamoto by one stroke to win the Turquoise Classic, in Phoenix. Bradley, who finished with a 12-under-par 280, received $75,000 for her 25th tour victory and became the LPGA's first player to reach $3 million in career winnings.

Bob Charles shot a two-under-par 214 to win a Senior PGA tournament and $72,000 in ChibaKen, Japan. Runner-up Hsu Chisan finished two strokes back.

HOCKEY—The Rangers became the first team in the Patrick Division to earn a playoff berth and, after tying the Maple Leafs 5-5 and beating the Flyers 7-3, were just two points away from winning their first division title in 48 years. The Devils subsequently defeated the Sabres 4-3 to become the second Patrick team to clinch a spot in postseason play. At week's end, four points were all that separated the division's bottom four teams, which were competing for the last two playoff slots. The Islanders, 1-13-5 in their last 19 games, shared the cellar with Philly after an 0-2-1 week. Center Pat LaFontaine had two goals in the Isles' 5-5 tie with the Oilers, to become only the third player in team history to score 50 goals in a season. Despite losses to Buffalo (5-4) and the Capitals (4-1), the Smythe Division-leading Flames became the first NHL team to clinch a division title this season. They also tied Pittsburgh 3-3 and beat St. Louis 5-2 to climb within two points of the Adams Division-leading Bruins in the race for the league's best record. After a 7-3 drubbing of the Nordiques, Boston lost to the North Stars 7-6. Brothers Neal and Aaron Broten led the way for Minnesota, with five goals and one assist. The North Stars also defeated the Kings 5-2 and the Red Wings 5-1 to stay three points ahead of Detroit in the fight for the final Norris Division playoff spot. Playing in his first game after a year's suspension, Bob Probert scored the Red Wings' only goal against Minnesota. He then had the game-winner in Detroit's 5-3 victory over the Norris Division-leading Blackhawks and scored another in a 3-2 loss to Chicago. Probert served three months in federal prison after pleading guilty last fall to importing cocaine, and his day-to-day playing status is determined by his probation officer. With a 3-1 week, the Black-hawks gained a three-point lead over the second-place Blues, who lost three times. In an 8-6 loss to Edmonton, St. Louis's Brett Hull became the sixth player in NHL history to score 70 goals in a season.

At the inaugural women's world championship, in Ottawa, Canada defeated the U.S. 5-2 for the title (page 59).

HORSE RACING—RICHARD R. ($5.20), Jose Santos up, defeated For Really by a nose to win the Bay Shore Stakes and $70,080 at Aqueduct. The 3-year-old colt covered the seven furlongs in 1:22[4/5].

MI Selecto ($18.20), ridden by Jerry Bailey, beat Tour d'Or by a neck in the Gulfstream Park Handicap. The 5-year-old horse ran the VA miles in 2:03[3/5] and earned $180,000.