Labradford Smith

The Washington Bullets added to their already congested backcourt last night by obtaining injured guard Rex Chapman from the Charlotte Hornets for forward Tom Hammonds.The trade of former first-round draft picks gives the Bullets five shooting guards -- Chapman, David Wingate, A.J. English, Ledell Eackles and 1991 first-round draft pick LaBradford Smith -- but general manager John Nash said "the up side was so great, it was significant enough to warrant the deal."Chapman, 24, has missed the last 30 games because of a bruised left heel.

The Washington Bullets added to their already congested backcourt last night by obtaining injured guard Rex Chapman from the Charlotte Hornets for forward Tom Hammonds.The trade of former first-round draft picks gives the Bullets five shooting guards -- Chapman, David Wingate, A.J. English, Ledell Eackles and 1991 first-round draft pick LaBradford Smith -- but general manager John Nash said "the up side was so great, it was significant enough to warrant the deal."Chapman, 24, has missed the last 30 games because of a bruised left heel.

The Orioles have to draw 129,826 for their final three dates this weekend to set an all-time club home attendance record. The only thing that can stop them is a rainout. They're likely to draw close to 150,000.Last night fewer than 2,000 tickets remained for Friday and Saturday. Sunday is a sellout. It's something when a sixth-place team such as the Orioles outdraws a division winner like Pittsburgh, which will end up just under 2.3 million.It's hard to get excited about the O's-Yanks battle for fifth place if you can remember when the Orioles were winners and Earl Weaver used to say: "If you're not in first place, you're camping out."

LANDOVER -- They say there is strength in numbers. But the Washington Bullets, reduced to nine able-bodied players, refuted that theory last night by surviving a late Indiana rally to beat the Pacers, 105-101, before 10,223 at the Capital Centre.With Harvey Grant (calf) and Rex Chapman (ankle) sidelined and the Bullets choosing not to sign a guard to replace Doug Overton, who remains on the injured list following thumb surgery, it seriously limited coach Wes Unseld's rotation.But four of his five starters -- Tom Gugliotta, Pervis Ellison, Michael Adams and LaBradford Smith -- delivered strong performances in combining for 88 points as Washington (16-37)

A sure sign of a victory came about 10 feet outside of the BayRunners' locker room after last night's game -- the music was blasting. That alone created a different mood after the BayRunners' first victory in franchise history, a 101-81 win over the San Diego Stingrays before 6,423 at Baltimore Arena, compared with the mostly silent locker room in Friday's season-opening loss to Trenton. The BayRunners (1-2) jumped to a double-digit lead in the first quarter and maintained it most of the game.

LANDOVER -- Bernard King was an unexpected guest at the Washington Bullets' tipoff luncheon yesterday. Unfortunately, he did not come to announce he is ready to get back on the playing floor.His face is on the cover of the Bullets' media guide, but he said it won't be in the lineup any time soon.When the Bullets open the 1991-92 season in Indiana Friday night, they'll be missing his leadership, not to mention the 28.4 points he averaged last season when he made the NBA All-Star team to complete a six-year comeback from career-threatening knee surgery.

As upsets go, it may not rank with the Jets' win over the Colts in Super Bowl III, little Chaminade's stunning victory over Ralph Sampson's Virginia team or Buster Douglas' knockout of heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.But in Washington Bullets' lore, last night's 105-101 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers was big, real big.Unfortunately, there were only 3,333 eyewitnesses at the Baltimore Arena due to the rescheduling of Saturday night's snowed-out contest.But thousands more might insist they were there the night the Bullets (17-43)

It's not often that the NBA picks up rejects from the United States Basketball League, but that would happen if Coppin State's Larry Stewart or Maryland's Cedric Lewis are selected in tonight's draft.Stewart and Lewis were cut from the Philadelphia Spirit of the USBL late last month (the team had four spots for rookies), but based on impressive showings in postseason scouting combines and tournaments, there's an outside chance either could be a late second-round pick."Both Cedric and Larry would definitely go in a three-round draft," said Glenn Schwartzman, an agent of the SportsPro management company that represents the two. "A lot of teams are interested in both of them, and after the 13th pick, it's really shaping up to be a strange draft."

LANDOVER -- On paper, the New Jersey Nets vs. the Washington Bullets at the Capital Centre last night figured to be a classic mismatch.The lottery-bound Bullets, with the worst record in the East, were playing the playoff-bound Nets, who owned the fourth-best record and had won eight of their past nine games.To increase the odds, Bullets rookie forward Tom Gugliotta missed his first game as a pro, bedded down with the flu.Reserve guard Rex Chapman was a late scratch, also with the flu. Center Pervis Ellison already was sidelined with a knee injury, leaving Wes Unseld with a bunch of undersized forwards to battle one of the NBA's biggest front lines, featuring 6-foot-10 Derrick Coleman and 6-11 Chris Dudley, with 7-1 Sam Bowie and beefy 6-10 Rick Mahorn in reserve.

(in predicted order of finish)ATLANTIC DIVISIONBoston CelticsLast season: First (56-26), lost to Detroit in conference semifinals, 4-2Coach: Chris Ford (56-26 career record)New face: F Rick Fox (draft)Outlook: A rejuvenated Larry Bird has the Celtics thinking title again.Key: Keeping the aging front line of Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale healthy and active.New York KnicksLast season: Third (39-43), lost in first round of conference playoffs to Chicago, 3-0Coach: Pat Riley (533-194 career record)