NBA Roundup : Olajuwon Is Spark for Rockets

The Houston Rockets needed Akeem Olajuwon’s 32 points, including 6 straight baskets in the closing minutes, to rally for a 116-106 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers Thursday night at Houston.

“We pull through one way or another,” said Olajuwon, who scored 12 points in the fourth quarter.

“It was pressure time. That’s when we like it. I like to change the direction when it’s not going our way,” he added.

Olajuwon also had 16 rebounds.

Mike Woodson scored 22 points for the Rockets. Jerome Kersey and Kevin Duckworth scored 23 points each for Portland, and Clyde Drexler scored 22.

Seattle 130, Dallas 95--Dale Ellis broke a 2-game shooting slump by scoring 36 points, including 4 3-pointers, as the SuperSonics won their 12th consecutive home game.

Ellis, who was held to 17 points by Portland and Cleveland in each of his last 2 games, ignited a 21-5 Seattle run during a 6-minute span in the third quarter as Seattle turned a 14-point lead into a 30-point margin, 88-58.

Utah 115, San Antonio 91--John Stockton had 26 points, 16 assists and 6 steals to lead the Jazz past the Spurs at Salt Lake City.

Karl Malone scored 31 points and Thurl Bailey added 21, while Mark Eaton had 17 rebounds and 11 blocked shots.

Boston 106, New Jersey 103--Dennis Johnson made a free throw and Danny Ainge added 2 more in the final minute for the Celtics at Boston. Reggie Lewis scored 26 points for the winners.

Washington 106, Miami 100--Steve Colter scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, and Bernard King and Jeff Malone scored 32 points each as the Bullets rallied to beat the Heat at Landover, Md.

New York 106, Charlotte 89----Charles Oakley scored 6 of his 12 points during a 15-0 spurt to open the third quarter as the Knicks made it 12 straight victories at home.