NBA Roundup : Eaton Plays Big Role in Jazz Win

Mark Eaton intimidated Houston’s Twin Towers Sunday at Salt Lake City and the Utah Jazz scored an easy 121-92 victory over the Rockets.

While the 7-5 Eaton was blocking seven shots and grabbing 16 rebounds to help give Utah control of the boards, he left the scoring to Adrian Dantley and Darrell Griffith.

Dantley, making 11 of 17 shots from the field, had 28 points and Griffith had 23 as the Jazz broke the game open early in the fourth quarter.

Akeem Olajuwon, listed by the Rockets as a 7-footer, but called a “little fellow” by Eaton, led all scorers with 29 points, 16 of them in the third quarter to cut the lead to 86-78. But he had only two points in the last quarter when they were outscored, 35-14.

In the first four minutes of the last quarter, the Jazz outscored the Rockets, 17-3, to send the game into early “garbage time.”

Eaton blocked three of Olajuwon’s shots and his presence in the middle kept the other Houston 7-footer, Ralph Sampson, from driving the middle.

After a driving layup by Griffith early in the game gave Utah a 7-6 lead, the Rockets were never in front again. Houston was playing its second consecutive road game and appeared to be a weary team in the fourth quarter.

Although Olajuwon had 18 rebounds, his team was outrebounded, 55-41, a pretty good indication the Rockets were tired.

The second consecutive victory over a contender in the Midwest Division, pulled the Jazz to within one game of .500. Utah beat Denver Friday night. The Jazz trail the division-leading Rockets by 3 1/2 games.

Portland 118, Indiana 101--Kiki Vandeweghe scored 12 of his 26 points in the third quarter at Portland to lead the Trail Blazers to their most impressive performance in a month.

The Blazers, who had won only two of their previous 13 games, had a 62-54 lead at halftime. But, with Vandeweghe leading the way, the Blazers outscored the Pacers, 32-20, to take a commanding lead.

Clyde Drexler scored 18 of his 23 points in the first half to help build the early lead. At one time in the fourth quarter the Blazers led by 30 points.

Vandeweghe, who has been hampered by injuries recently, sank 9-of-14 shots from the field and made all eight of his free-throw attempts.