New Jersey Nets

Bulls: Their 99-79 victory over the New York Knicks Tuesday was their 12th straight. The Knicks have now lost three straight at home.Hawks: Won their ninth straight in beating the Cleveland Cavaliers, 84-72. The Cavs made just 29 of 84 (.346) shots.Magic: Stayed unbeaten at home with a 105-90 rout of the Philadelphia 76ers. Orlando reached the halfway point of its home schedule with a 21-0 record.Jazz: Outscored Portland, 30-8, in the second quarter and held the Trail Blazers to the lowest point total in their history in a 96-72 victory.

Alan Aufzien, the New Jersey Nets' chairman of the board, denied last night that coach Bill Fitch was about to be fired and replaced by former North Carolina State coach Jim Valvano.Reports published yesterday in The Record of Hackensack, N.J., and USA Today indicated that the change was imminent, and two people with knowledge of the situation told Newsday yesterday that the change would be made soon.Aufzien said, however, that Nets vice president Willis Reed is in charge of basketball operations, and Reed said: "As of now there have not been any changes in our basketball program.

Drazen Petrovic, the New Jersey Nets' 28-year-old guard and leading scorer, was killed in an automobile accident last night in Germany, according to his father.Reached by telephone at his home in Croatia, Jole Petrovic confirmed reports of his son's death.But there were conflicting reports of exactly how Petrovic had died. Paul Silas, a Nets assistant coach, said he had heard that Petrovic and his girlfriend, who lives in Germany, were killed instantly when their automobile ran into the back of a truck.

BOWIE -- The Washington Bullets' Tim Legler was so happy to be back on the court that he didn't give much thought to how he would be received by fans after nine months away from the game. The loud ovation when he checked into Tuesday night's game against the New York Knicks caught him slightly off guard."It felt great, I felt that everybody appreciated that I helped this team last year, and they were anxious for me to come back," Legler said yesterday after the team's practice at Bowie State.

BOWIE -- Alone on a fast break during his first day back at practice, Washington Bullets forward Chris Webber did something unusual. Instead of slamming the ball with his right hand or with two hands, he went in with his left -- immediately testing the left shoulder he dislocated during the preseason."

FIVE TOP ROOKIES1. Jamal Mashburn, Dallas Mavericks -- Playing with the worst team in the NBA does have its advantages. Mashburn should win Rookie of the Year honors.2. Chris Webber, Golden State Warriors -- Because of injuries to teammates, he could find himself carrying too much of a load.3. Isaiah "J. R." Rider, Minnesota Timberwolves -- Perhaps the most talented rookie, but could face problems playing alongside Chuck Person and Christian Laettner.4. Anfernee Hardaway, Orlando Magic -- To some, the second coming of Magic Johnson.

Baseball Baltimore Orioles -- Signed P Mike Linskey and P David Martinez one-year contracts.Boston Red Sox -- Agreed to minor-league contracts with P Cecilio Guante and P Tony Fossas.Cincinnati Reds -- Agreed to terms with second baseman Mariano Duncan (.306 avg., 11 triples, 10 HRs) on a one-year contract worth $925,000, a $525,000 raise. Signed P Mo Sanford and P Luis Vasquez and OF Reggie Sanders to minor-league contracts.Chicago Cubs -- Agreed to terms with OF Dave Clark (.275, 5 HRs, 20 RBI in 171 at-bats)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Tony Parker wasn't even born when the American Basketball Association, the league that gave birth to the San Antonio Spurs and New Jersey Nets, went under. And given that he is a native of France, he likely never heard that the old ABA was famous for its offense. Thankfully for San Antonio, Parker was around to bail out the Spurs last night with the kind of point guard play that would have made James Silas proud. Parker scored 26 points and dished out six assists in a 84-79 win in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, giving San Antonio a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The New Jersey Nets and Washington Bullets, who close out the first half of the NBA season at the Capital Centre tonight, are trying to improve their present standing and outlook for the next three months.Both teams appear long shots to make the playoffs, but Nets coach Bill Fitch and the Bullets' Wes Unseld have taken different approaches to end the downward spiral.Fitch seemingly escaped an early dismissal when New Jersey won 12 of 15 games in January, but rumors resurfaced after the Nets began February with five straight road losses.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The New Jersey Nets' fourth-quarter foibles were well-documented in the regular season. The Nets blew leads against good teams, twice falling apart late against the Dallas Mavericks. And they blew leads against bad ones, squandering a double-digit lead against the Los Angeles Clippers down the stretch. Their collapses were so indiscriminate and their late-game offense so unproductive that some pundits wondered if the Nets just didn't trust each other to get the job done with the game on the line.