NBA ROUNDUP : Olajuwon’s Lack of Support Is Painfully Clear

It must have been apparent to a national television audience on Monday afternoon why Akeem Olajuwon is unhappy.

Olajuwon, one of the NBA’s best players, had another brilliant game, but didn’t get much help and the Houston Rockets were beaten by the Chicago Bulls, 107-102.

The 7-foot center from Nigeria is in his sixth season with the Rockets, and the talent around him seems to get worse each season.

Olajuwon had 32 points, 17 rebounds and nine blocked shots, but the Rockets still lost for the 21st time in 25 road games. With a 23-28 record, the Rockets have the 10th-best record in the Western Conference. Only eight teams qualify for the playoffs.

Olajuwon complained recently that he wasn’t sure about management’s commitment to building a winner.

“The next four or five years are the best years and I want to make the most of them,” Olajuwon told the Houston Post. “After this season, I have to concentrate on which direction I want to go. I may ask for a trade. I want to win. There’s no pride when you lose.”

While Michael Jordan was getting support from several players, including Ed Nealy, who was celebrating his 30th birthday, Olajuwon and guard Mitchell Wiggins had to carry the Rockets.

Olajuwon kept it from being a rout, although the Bulls built a 20-point lead in the second quarter. At the start of the third quarter Olajuwon and Wiggins, who finished with 24 points, led a 27-4 spurt that gave the Rockets a seven-point lead.

Jordan and Nealy brought the Bulls back. Jordan had eight of his 30 points in the last 3:21 of the third quarter and the Bulls regained control.

Nealy, getting a chance to play because center Bill Cartwright had back spasms, played 24 minutes, was five for seven from the field, had nine rebounds and scored 10 points.

“Ed’s a coach’s delight,” Bull Coach Phil Jackson said. “He’s always in the right place at the right time.”

Dallas 96, Cleveland 87--Mark Price’s string of games in which he made three-point shots ended at 35 at Richfield, Ohio.

With Price missing all seven three-point attempts and teammates Steve Kerr and Craig Ehlo going eight for 31 from the field, the Mavericks took charge inside. The Cavaliers scored only 13 points in the last 13 minutes.

Sam Perkins led the Mavericks, who have won five in a row, with a season-high 24 points.

Detroit 94, Miami 85--The Pistons held the Heat to 32 points in the first half at Auburn Hills, Mich., and coasted to their 12th consecutive victory.

The Pistons broke the game open in the second quarter when Mark Aguirre came off the bench to score seven points to lead a 13-2 surge. The Heat was not closer than 10 points in the second half until the last shot of the game.

Dennis Rodman, enjoying his role as a starter, had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons.

Denver 114, Golden State 109--On a night at Denver when his teammates shot under 40%, Fat Lever took charge to give the Nuggets a hard-fought victory.

Lever had a career-high 29 points and 20 rebounds in an error-filled game.

The Warriors cut the Denver lead to 104-102 with three minutes to play, then turned the ball over on five of their next six possessions.

With 27 seconds left, Mitch Richmond barely missed a three-point shot that would have tied the score.

Utah 115, Philadelphia 102--In a game marred by 11 technical fouls, forwards Charles Barkley of the 76ers and Karl Malone of the Jazz battled on even terms for a half at Salt Lake City. Each scored 20 points.

But Malone won the scoring battle, 34-30, and the Jazz increased their lead in the Midwest Division to a game over San Antonio. The 76ers were assessed eight technical fouls.