NBA Playoffs : Chambers, Ellis Lead Sonics Over Rockets

The Houston Rockets’ Twin Towers--Akeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson--get more attention, but the Seattle SuperSonics’ unheralded combination of Tom Chambers and Dale Ellis is proving to be more productive.

Chambers, a forward, had a postseason-high 38 points, and Ellis, a guard, added 32 as the SuperSonics defeated the Rockets, 117-102, Saturday to take a 3-1 lead in their National Basketball Assn. Western Conference second-round playoff series.

“I wanted to come right out and go after Ralph,” Chambers said. “I didn’t want him to have a heyday against me.”

“I found my rhythm,” said Ellis, who scored only 12 points in a loss to the Rockets in Game 3. “They did a good job of taking me out of it on Thursday.”

The Sonics, who finished the regular season with a 39-43 record after missing the playoffs the last two seasons, can advance to the conference finals with a victory at Houston Tuesday night. The Lakers lead Golden State, 3-0, in the other Western Conference semifinal.

If a sixth game is necessary, it would be played at the Seattle Coliseum Thursday night. A seventh game would be played at Houston next Saturday.

Chambers made 13 of 22 shots, and Ellis made 14 of 26, including 3 of 4 three-point attempts.

Meanwhile, Olajuwon and Sampson, who dominated the Sonics in Game 3, were in foul trouble throughout the game. Olajuwon finished with 20 points but played only 27 minutes, 10 in the first half. Olajuwon had four fouls in the first half and picked up his fifth with 5:29 left in the third period. Sampson, who had 18 points, played only 33 minutes before fouling out.

“I had some stupid fouls early,” Olajuwon said. “When Ralph and I got in foul trouble, that was the game right there.”

“We simply didn’t execute,” Sampson said. “We didn’t do what we had to do to win.”

Houston Coach Bill Fitch refused to blame officials Darrell Garretson and Bill Oates for the foul trouble.

“NBA officiating is always good,” he said. “Some days are better than others. Our defense was a step behind all day.”

Rodney McCray added 20 points for the Rockets.

The Sonics were helped by the return of 7-foot center Alton Lister, who had not started since breaking a bone in his right foot with seven games left in the regular season. Lister scored only 7 points but had 17 rebounds and helped stop Houston’s strong inside game.