NBA Roundup : Rockets Respond to Raps With 134-117 Rout of N.Y.

Before Thursday night’s game against the New York Knicks, Houston center Akeem Olajuwon criticized Coach Bill Fitch’s coaching tactics and accused guard Sleepy Floyd of not fulfilling his duties as a playmaker.

The Rockets then went out and defeated the Knicks, 134-117, at Houston.

Purvis Short scored 33 points, tying his season high. The 134 points is a team high for the Rockets this season.

The game met with Olajuwon’s approval.

“That’s what I was talking about before,” he said. “We came out and played tonight as a team. We were running and that was the difference.”

Floyd scored 10 points and had 10 assists. He said Olajuwon’s comments didn’t affect his game.

“I’m happy to be a part of this team; I don’t consider this to be major, what has happened,” Floyd said.

Olajuwon scored 26 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.

Gerald Wilkins led the Knicks with 20 points.

Washington 94, Atlanta 91--Moses Malone sank four free throws in the last 14 seconds at Landover, Md., as the Bullets beat the Hawks for the first time in nearly two years.

Atlanta had beaten Washington eight times in a row dating back to April 4, 1986. The victory also ended Washington’s four-game losing streak.

Steve Colter had 19 points and a career-high 10 rebounds for the Bullets, and Jeff Malone added 21 points. Dominique Wilkins scored 28 for Atlanta.

Phoenix 119, Milwaukee 114--Walter Davis scored 24 points and Eddie Johnson added 22 at Phoenix as the Suns handed the Bucks their fifth straight road loss.

The Suns led, 112-104, with 2:23 remaining after getting six straight points from rookie Armon Gilliam.

Terry Cummings led Milwaukee with 22 points and passed the 10,000 mark in his six-year NBA career.

The Suns have won five of their last six games.

Utah 117, Sacramento 97--Thurl Bailey scored 38 points and John Stockton had 19 assists as the Jazz won at Salt Lake City.

Sacramento’s Derek Smith left the game late in the first quarter aftrer Karl Malone’s hand struck him in the left eye. Smith suffered a broken orbital rim.