Olajuwon Scores 48, but It’s Not Enough

Ricky Pierce got the Rockets early at Houston. LaPhonso Ellis and Dale Ellis got them in the fourth quarter.

And that was enough to overcome Hakeem Olajuwon’s second consecutive 40-plus-point game Thursday night as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Rockets, 113-109.

Olajuwon, who had 41 points Saturday against the Utah Jazz, got 48 points and 10 rebounds against Denver, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Nuggets, who shot 51.7% and blocked 14 shots, seven by Ervin Johnson.

Pierce scored 15 of his season-high 25 points in the first half and led the way with 11-of-18 shooting. LaPhonso Ellis had nine of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and Dale Ellis scored 20 points, including back-to-back shots that put Denver ahead for good, 108-105, with 3:56 to play.

“I always liked playing in this arena, even when I was at Rice,� Pierce said. “We were just trying to play solid down the stretch. We just kept our composure and made some good shots and played some defense.

“We’ve lost a lot of close ones at the end, so it feels good to win one like this, especially against a team of this caliber. They are a championship team.�

Maybe, but probably not without all-stars Charles Barkley and Clyde Drexler, who are sidelined because of injuries.

Utah 102, Atlanta 96--Karl Malone scored 12 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter at Salt Lake City to lead the Jazz to its fifth consecutive victory.

Steve Smith, who scored a career-high 41 points, brought the Hawks back from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

Smith scored 13 of his 14 fourth-quarter points in an 18-9 run that gave the Hawks their only lead of the second half, 91-90 with 6:38 to play.

Then it was Malone’s turn. He scored Utah’s next 10 points as the Jazz took a 100-95 lead with 1:10 to play.

New Jersey 113, Phoenix 101--Kendall Gill scored 32 points and the Nets nearly doubled their 62-point effort of two days before against Cleveland with a victory at East Rutherford, N.J.

“We needed this win,� Net Coach John Calipari said after all of his starters scored in double figures. “I like to use the word hope. After the Cleveland game, we had to come back like this to give us hope.�

The victory ended a three-game overall losing streak and a five-game slide at home for New Jersey, which made only 21 field goals in the loss to the Cavaliers.

Khalid Reeves, who will be the Nets’ starting point guard the next few weeks with Robert Pack out because of an ankle injury, made six three-point shots in scoring a season-high 25 points.

Kerry Kittles had 18 of his 20 points in the second half. Jayson Williams also came up big with 17 points and 20 rebounds.

Kevin Johnson had 26 points and 12 assists and Wesley Person 20 points for the Suns, who lost their fifth in a row.

Chicago 111, Sacramento 93--Michael Jordan had 32 points, including nine during a 13-4 run down the stretch, and Scottie Pippen added 22 as the Bulls defeated the Kings at Sacramento.

Mitch Richmond had 28 points and nine rebounds for the Kings, but was held to five points in the final quarter.

Minnesota 92, Dallas 82--Reserve Sam Mitchell scored 21 points and Terry Porter had five points during a decisive run to open the fourth quarter at Dallas as the Timberwolves extended their winning streak against the Mavericks to six.

Chris Gatling returned from a one-game club suspension with a 29-point, 18-rebound game for the Mavericks, who have lost eight of their last 10 games.