NBA Roundup : Olajuwon Tip at Buzzer Saves Rockets’ Streak

The Houston Rockets are trying to become the first team in NBA history to win all of their home games in a season. It has never been done, although four teams have lost only once.

The Rockets’ bid almost came to an end Saturday night.

But Akeem Olajuwon, thwarted all night by 7-7 Manute Bol, tipped in a basket at the buzzer to give the Rockets an 87-86 victory over the tenacious Washington Bullets and improve their record at The Summit to 20-0.

The Bullets, who are 7-11 on the road, appeared to have a victory when Dan Roundfield picked up a loose ball and scored with seven seconds left to give the Bullets an 86-85 lead.

The Rockets called a timeout, and Ralph Sampson threw up a hurried jumper that missed. Olajuwon slipped inside Bol and tipped it into the basket. Bol didn’t score a point in 34 minutes, but he blocked seven shots, including four by Olajuwon, and messed up the Rockets’ offense.

Until his game-winning tip, Olajuwon was 7 for 21, and Sampson was 3 for 13.

It was a night of wretched shooting. The Bullets shot only 39.5%; the Rockets were only slightly better (42.0%).

Three of the teams that lost only one home game in a season did it in 1950. In those days, most teams played several games on neutral courts. The best record was by Rochester, which was 33-1 at home in 1950.

Since teams have been playing 41 home games in a season, several have posted 37-4 records.

Portland 109, New York 106--It was a night of good fortune for the Trail Blazers at New York. Before the game, they learned that Sam Bowie did not have a broken leg, only a bruise, and will not be out the rest of the season.

Then, despite a 40-12 burst in the middle of the game by the Knicks, the Blazers, behind the sharpshooting of Jerome Kersey, pulled out the win. Kersey, who scored 16 points in 13 minutes, made a basket, a free throw and a steal in the closing seconds to win the game.

The Blazers led, 54-41, in the last minute of the second quarter. The Knicks scored four points before halftime, then went on a 36-12 run to take an 81-66 lead. Patrick Ewing, who scored 29 points, had 13 in the 40-12 burst.

It was believed that Bowie, injured Friday night at Milwaukee, had a broken leg. But, it was found that X-rays revealed an old break from college days, not a new one. He should be back within a week.

Philadelphia 102, Detroit 101--It is true that the Pistons are in a horrendous slump, but it is not true that their star guard, Isiah Thomas, has deserted them.

There was a report that Thomas, bothered by nagging injuries, would not play in the game with the 76ers at Pontiac, Mich. because he was upset and wanted to quit. The rumor started because he missed a practice session.

Thomas played 39 minutes, getting 12 points and 9 assists.

The 76ers won because Charles Barkley scored 5 of his 26 points in the last 93 seconds to thwart the Pistons’ desperate rally.

The Pistons have lost 15 of their last 19 games.

“I had a temperature, and everyone said I was retiring,” Thomas said. “The problem is, now when we lose games, everybody wants to know the reasons why. Everyone is trying to . . . come up with answers. It’s simple----we’re just not winning games.”

Denver 114, Utah 106--Alex English scored 7 of his 24 points in the last 4:27 at Denver as the Nuggets used a strong rally to defeat the slumping Jazz.

The Jazz led by 14 points when the Nuggets began their winning drive with just a little more than 14 minutes remaining.

Utah had its last lead, 105-103, with 3:53 to play. An 18-footer by Wayne Cooper tied it, and Calvin Natt sank a free throw before English hit two jumpers to nail down the victory.

Dallas 127, Golden State 123--The Mavericks, trailing by four points with 38 seconds left in overtime at Dallas, rallied to win. Dale Ellis’ steal and ensuing three-point play followed a basket by Jay Vincent to give the Mavericks the lead for good.

The Mavericks led, 110-101, with 2:35 left in regulation. But the Warriors, getting three-point plays from Purvis Short and Joe Barry Carroll, scored nine points in a row.

Short led all scorers with 44 points.

Phoenix 128, Indiana 99--Rookie Ed Pinckney scored a career-high 21 points at Phoenix to lead the Suns to their easiest victory of the season.

Pinckney came off the bench to play 23 minutes in the one-sided affair. He made 6 of his 7 field goal attempts and had 5 rebounds.

Cleveland 105, Sacramento 101--The Kings, playing their third road game in four nights, wore out in the closing minutes. Speedy John Bagley turned on the jets and scored 10 points in the last 4:31 to assure the Cavaliers the victory.

World B. Free had 24 points, and Roy Hinson had 22 points and 10 rebounds to help the Cavaliers end a three-game losing streak.