NBA Roundup : Blazers Get With System, Beat Rockets

It took an injury to his big man, Sam Bowie, and five losses in the first six games for Coach Mike Schuler to get his system across to the Portland Trail Blazers.

But now that Kiki Vandeweghe and his teammates have caught on to the Schuler fast break, they are running like mad. They are winning, too.

Vandeweghe came through in the clutch Tuesday night at Houston, getting six points in the last 78 seconds of overtime to lead the Trail Blazers to a 115-111 victory over the Rockets.

It was the fourth win in a row for the Trail Blazers, who appeared to be beaten when they fell behind, 103-99, with 17 seconds left in regulation. Vandeweghe sank two free throws and, with three seconds left, Terry Porter scored on a layup to tie it.

The loss was a costly one for the Rockets. Ralph Sampson, playing in only his second game of the season, again sprained the ankle that kept him out of the first six games.

The Rockets also lost Akeem Olajuwon on fouls with seven minutes left.

Without the Twin Towers, the Rockets still forged ahead, 110-107, deep into overtime. At this point, Vandeweghe took over, making four free throws and a layup to enable the Trail Blazers to even their record at 5-5.

“We have a lot more confidence in our system now,” Vandeweghe said. “We trust each other now. I think it’s just a matter of playing together.”

Steve Johnson has moved in as an adequate replacement for Bowie. Johnson scored 24 points in this one and has 74 in the last four games. Vandeweghe has 114 points for a 28.5 average in that span.

“I just hope we keep playing this way,” Schuler said. “And I expect us to.”

Olajuwon played 22 minutes, had 16 points and 6 blocked shots. Sampson was 4 for 7 in 13 minutes of action.

Denver 125, New Jersey 112--Alex English scored a season-high 43 points at Denver, but it was Mike Evans who sparked the winning drive in the fourth quarter.

The Nuggets led, 100-99, when Evans came off the bench to score nine points in a 13-0 run in just 2 1/2 minutes to break the game open. One of the baskets he didn’t score was a layup by Wayne Cooper on a pass from Evans.

Evans made all four shots he took in the spurt, one a three-pointer.

It may have been a costly win. Bill Hanzlik, who has averaged 20.4 points per game, suffered a possible pinched nerve in a second-quarter collision with Buck Williams of the Nets.

Milwaukee 111, Golden State 85--Sidney Moncrief was still out with a knee problem, but the Bucks didn’t miss their ace at Milwaukee.

For one thing, they were playing the Warriors, a notoriously poor road team. For another, Moncrief’s replacement at guard, Ricky Pierce is sizzling.

Pierce made 10 of 12 field goal attempts on his way to a 26-point performance. In the last five games, Pierce has averaged 25.2 points.

The Warriors scored only 35 points in the first 24 minutes.

Seattle 119, Sacramento 105--Dale Ellis scored 28 points, including 9 in the fourth quarter, and Tom Chambers added 27, leading the SuperSonics past the Kings at Seattle.

Leading 85-81 at the end of the third period, Seattle outscored the Kings, 15-3, at the outset of the final quarter to put the game away.

Derek Smith scored 21 points for Sacramento.