NBA Roundup : Olajuwon Likes Being the Hero, Does It Again

When Akeem Olajuwon scored the winning basket with three seconds left to beat Denver last Wednesday night, it was the first time the Houston Rockets’ talented rookie had performed such a feat.

Apparently, it made quite an impression on the 7-footer. He enjoyed the acclaim so much that he embellished it Tuesday night at Houston.

After scoring five points in the closing minutes to give the Rockets the lead, he blocked a 20-footer at the buzzer by Larry Drew to clinch the 112-110 victory over the tough Kansas City Kings.

With the score 103-103, Olajuwon made a dunk, a free throw and a turnaround jumper. He also had a steal to set up a layup for Ralph Sampson shortly before he blocked Drew’s attempt to send the game into overtime.

While at University of Houston, the big man was surrounded by hot shots, and he let them have the glory of the final shot in close games.

“It was a nice feeling to make that one the other night,” Olajuwon said. “It makes you feel more a part of the team when you do those things. Tonight everything just seemed to fall into place in the closing seconds.

“We couldn’t afford to lose to a team like the Kings on our own court.”

Olajuwon, showing steady improvement as a pro, scored 24 points, had 12 rebounds, a steal and two blocked shots. Sampson, the other half of the Twin Towers, had 17 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.

Dallas 108, Portland 102--As the Trail Blazers’ slide down the Pacific Division continues, controversy continues to surround Kiki Vandeweghe. In an interview with Laker broadcaster Chick Hearn Friday, Kiki’s father, Dr. Ernie Vandeweghe criticized the manner in which the Blazers were using his son.

Kiki, who sat out this game at Portland because of tendinitis in his foot, said his father is a “very opinionated person” and that he does not agree with his comments.

“I’m not unhappy with the system,” Kiki said. “I’m unhappy with the way I’ve played some of the time.”

The Trail Blazers have lost 12 of their last 15 games.

Washington 99, Milwaukee 95--When former UCLA player Darren Daye sank a 15-footer with 5:34 left at Milwaukee, the Bullets led, 89-72, and thought they would coast to victory.

But Paul Pressey led a Milwaukee rally. He scored eight points in a 19-4 spurt that cut the lead to 93-91 with 1:07 left. Gus Williams sank an 18-footer, and after Pressey finally missed, Greg Ballard put the game out of reach with a short jumper.

“Did we make it exciting for the fans?” asked Williams. “We didn’t mean to. We were lucky to get out alive.”

Cleveland 107, New Jersey 101--World B. Free scored 10 of his 27 points in the last 3:20 of the third quarter at Richfield, Ohio, to give the Cavaliers an 18-point lead.

The Nets’ belated rally cut the lead to four points, but they could never get any closer.

San Antonio 139, Golden State 94--The little fellows are making the triple doubles look easy. Isiah Thomas only 6-1, did it recently and, in this romp at San Antonio, Johnny Moore of the Spurs, only an inch taller than Thomas, did it.

In fact, Moore just missed making it a rare quadruple double. Moore had 26 points, 13 assists, 11 rebounds, but only nine steals.