NBA Roundup : Hornets’ Win Streak Almost Reaches Three

For a while Saturday night, it appeared that the Charlotte Hornets might win their third straight game. But they were unable to hold a 17-point, third-quarter lead and lost to the Houston Rockets, 108-104, at Houston.

The Hornets (4-11) led, 66-49, before the Rockets outscored them, 28-14, to cut the lead to 80-77 at the end of the third quarter.

Akeem Olajuwon scored the Rockets’ first 3 baskets of the fourth quarter to give them an 83-82 lead.

Charlotte regained the lead, 86-83, but Mike Woodson scored 5 straight points to give the Rockets an 88-86 advantage.

After a basket by former Rocket Robert Reid tied the score, a free throw by Woodson on a technical foul for illegal defense gave Houston the lead for good with 7:12 to play.

The Rockets led by as many as 6 points before Kelly Tripucka hit a 3-point shot with 27 seconds left to cut Houston’s lead to 105-104. But Eric (Sleepy) Floyd hit 3 free throws in the closing seconds to ensure the win.

Olajuwon had 28 points, 12 in the fourth quarter. Woodson had 29 points, and Floyd had 17 points and 13 assists.

Tripucka scored 30 and Reid had 24 for Charlotte.

Philadelphia 107, Indiana 100--Charles Barkley scored 31 points, including 9 during a fourth-quarter rally, as the 76ers, coming off a loss to Charlotte, won at Indianapolis.

The 76ers outscored the Pacers, 33-18, in the fourth period, and Barkley scored 5 of his 9 fourth-quarter points during a 13-2 spurt in the final 3:36.

Philadelphia trailed, 88-76, with 10:50 remaining before running off 8 consecutive points to close within 4. Barkley made it 90-88 with 7:01 remaining and then tied the score, 98-98, with 2:46 to play.

Indiana’s Vern Fleming tied the score, 100-100, with 1:31 remaining before the 76ers scored the final 7 points of the game.

Philadelphia played without Maurice Cheeks and Cliff Robinson, who were out with injuries.

Ron Anderson, traded by the Pacers to the 76ers during the exhibition season, finished with 28 points. Mike Gminski had 16 points and 15 rebounds.

Reggie Miller led the Pacers with 17 points.

Utah 107, Sacramento 73--Karl Malone scored 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the Jazz, coming off a 113-92 loss to the Lakers, won by 34 at Sacramento.

The victory margin was the largest of the season for the Jazz. Utah’s previous biggest margin was a 105-81 victory over the Kings Nov. 9 in Salt Lake City.

Utah’s biggest lead was 97-59 with 4:54 remaining. No Jazz starters played in the fourth quarter.

Atlanta 115, Portland 97--Reggie Theus scored 24 points, and the Hawks took control early en route to a victory over the Trail Blazers at Atlanta.

Dominique Wilkins and Moses Malone each had 22 points for the Hawks, who won their fourth straight. Malone made 9 of 12 shots.

Clyde Drexler led the Trail Blazers with 23 points.

Seattle 136, Golden State 106--Dale Ellis had 36 points, including 8 in the first 3 1/2 minutes of the second half, as the SuperSonics pulled away for an easy victory at Seattle.

The Sonics have scored 290 points in winning their last two games by a total of 80 points. Friday night, they beat the Clippers, 154-104.

Chicago 113, Dallas 100--Michael Jordan had 39 points and 11 rebounds as the Bulls won at Dallas.

In his 6 previous career games against Dallas, Jordan had averaged 24.5 points and had scored more than 30 only once.

Chicago snapped a 4-game losing streak in handing Dallas its worst loss of the season.

San Antonio 122, New York 109--Alvin Robertson had 23 points and 12 assists to lead the Spurs at San Antonio.

San Antonio went on a 13-5 run to open the fourth quarter and limited the Knicks to 3 field goals in the final 6 minutes.

Frank Brickowski, starting for the first time since re-signing with San Antonio last week, made 5 steals for the Spurs, who had 16.