NBA Roundup : Olajuwon’s 29 Points Help Rockets, 115-109

Akeem Olajuwon popped off early in the week. Saturday night, he let his shooting talk.

Olajuwon, who said Houston Coach Bill Fitch wasn’t allowing the Rockets enough freedom on the court, had 29 points and 21 rebounds in a 115-109 win over the Portland Trail Blazers at Houston.

“I wasn’t thinking about it,” Olajuwon said. “I was just trying to play my best.”

Houston’s Allen Leavell made six free throws in the final minute, after Clyde Drexler, who had 35 points for Portland, brought the Trail Blazers back into a 105-105 tie on a basket with 1:09 left.

Atlanta 109, Cleveland 102--Dominique Wilkins, despite being weakened by the flu, scored 13 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Hawks past the Cavaliers at Atlanta.

Dell Curry’s jumper gave the Cavaliers a 96-94 edge with 6:36 remaining, but Wilkins followed with a three-point shot that put the Hawks ahead to stay.

Brad Daugherty scored 25 points for Cleveland.

Boston 118, New York 106--Larry Bird scored 20 of his 31 points in the first half, and the Celtics coasted past the Knicks at New York.

It was only the second loss in the last 18 home games for New York, which fell into fourth place in the Atlantic Division, one game behind Philadelphia and Washington in the race for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Kevin McHale added 25 points for Boston, and Patrick Ewing had 25 for New York.

Dallas 131, San Antonio 112--Rolando Blackman scored 30 points as the Mavericks routed the Spurs at Dallas for their 17th victory in the last 21 games.

The Mavericks made their first 10 shots, hit 20 of 27 field goal attempts and had a club-record 17 assists while taking a 43-24 lead after one quarter.

Johnny Dawkins scored 26 points for San Antonio.

Detroit 108, Phoenix 103--Isiah Thomas scored 12 of his 36 points in the final six minutes, and the Pistons outlasted the Suns at Phoenix for their ninth victory in the last 10 games.

Thomas hit a baseline jumper with 2:01 left to put the Pistons ahead to stay, 103-101, and Bill Laimbeer added two free throws 15 seconds later.

Walter Davis scored 29 points for the Suns.

Milwaukee 107, Utah 105--Ricky Pierce hit a long jumper with 10 seconds left at Salt Lake City, and the Bucks handed the Jazz only their second defeat in the last 18 home games.

The Bucks built a 99-91 lead midway through the fourth period, but Utah’s Karl Malone scored six points during a 14-6 run and hit a turnaround jumper with 58 seconds left to give the Jazz a 105-103 lead. Pierce hit a jumper with 48 seconds left to tie the score.

Malone scored 33 points for Utah, and John Stockton added 19 points and 18 assists. Terry Cummings had 24 points for Milwaukee.

Washington 99, New Jersey 88--The Bullets pulled into a tie for second place with Philadelphia in the Atlantic Division by turning back the Nets at Landover, Md.

Frank Johnson ignited the Bullets on another 13-4 run, scoring eight points, and Washington took a 75-67 lead into the final period. The Nets didn’t get closer than six points in the final quarter.

Buck Williams had 22 points and 11 rebounds for New Jersey. Jeff Malone scored 17 points, and Moses Malone added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Bullets.

Chicago 109, Indiana 100--Michael Jordan scored 16 of his 38 points in the third quarter, and Charles Oakley had 15 points and 17 rebounds as the Bulls beat the Pacers at Chicago.

Sam Vincent added 19 points and 10 assists as the Bulls won a seventh consecutive home game for the first time in the club’s 22-year NBA history.

Chuck Person scored 31 points and Wayman Tisdale added 23 for the Pacers, who have lost 7 of 9.

Denver 131, Golden State 108--Alex English scored 29 points, and the Nuggets raced past the Warriors at Oakland.

Lafayette Lever had 28 points, Michael Adams 27 and Blair Rasmussen 21 for the Nuggets. Adams hit three three-point shots, extending to 30 his NBA record for consecutive games with at least one.