NBA Roundup : Sampson-less Rockets Overwhelmed by 76ers

When the Houston Rockets won four of their first five games without injured Ralph Sampson, there was some talk that the Rockets didn’t need basketball’s tallest forward.

Now that things are not going so well for the Rockets, you can look for a new assesment of the importance of the 7-4 Sampson.

In the absence of one half of their Twin Towers, the Rockets were overwhelmed on the boards Sunday night at Philadelphia and were beaten, 114-104, for their third loss in the last four games.

With Roy Hinson grabbing 15 rebounds and Charles Barkley, in his first game since Nov. 4, getting eight more in just 23 minutes, the 76ers had a 49-33 advantage in rebounds and led almost from the start.

The Rockets, who knocked the Lakers out of the playoffs last spring, have only a 6-5 record. After missing the first six games with an ankle injury, Sampson injured his other ankle in his second game back, playing only 40 minutes.

Akeem Olajuwon, the healthy member of the Twin Towers, tried to do pick up the slack. He had 27 points, 7 rebounds and 6 blocked shots, but didn’t get enough help.

Hinson scored 24 points and Julius Erving had 23 and 10 rebounds.

Barkley, who missed nine games because of a spleen injury, played against the advise of doctors who said he risked serious injury.

Portland 108, Indiana 95--Former Trail Blazer coach Jack Ramsay received a standing ovation in his return to Portland as coach of the Pacers. But he wasn’t treated as well by his former players.

Kiki Vandeweghe scored 23 points, including three long baskets during a fourth-quarter surge that clinched the Blazers’ sixth win in the last seven games.

Wayman Tisdale of the Pacers led all scorers with 25 points. It was the third loss in a row for the Pacers to end a five-game trip.