NBA ROUNDUP : Rockets Misfire in 121-110 Loss to Bullets

The Houston Rockets seem concerned that some people rate Dennis Rodman of the Detroit Pistons a better defensive player than the Rockets’ Akeem Olajuwon.

Maybe the Rockets should be more concerned about their playoff chances instead of individual honors for their center.

Although Olajuwon scored 36 points and had 17 rebounds, the Rockets were beaten handily by the Washington Bullets Friday night at Landover, Md. The Bullets built a 14-point third-quarter lead and won easily, 121-110.

The Rockets, only 7-29 on the road, are two games out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Rockets have nine games remaining, five on the road.

When Olajuwon, who leads the NBA in rebounds and blocked shots and is eighth in steals, was told that Rodman would receive votes as the best defensive player, he laughed.

“It’s up to the voters,” he said, “but what else is there to defense besides rebounding, blocking shots and stealing the ball.”

Olajuwon is also about the only Rocket offensive threat and he didn’t get much help against the Bullets.

While Jeff Malone was scoring 29 points and Bernard King 27 for the Bullets, Olajuwon’s teammates shot a only 40% from the field.

Milwaukee 92, Detroit 84--Bill Laimbeer of the Pistons has always felt he was the best shooter from long range in the NBA.

In this game at Auburn Hills, Mich. Laimbeer met his match--for one game, at least.

Brad Lohaus, a seven-foot center, made six three-point baskets and scored 25 points and the Bucks ended the Pistons’ home winning streak at 15 games.

Laimbeer was only one for seven in 39 minutes.

New York 114, Philadelphia 104--Now that Kiki Vandeweghe has regained his shooting touch, some of the pressure is off Patrick Ewing.

Ewing came up with one of his biggest games at New York and the Knicks, apparently out of a slump that knocked them out of first place in the Atlantic Division, clinched a playoff berth.

Ewing had 37 points, 19 rebounds and nine blocked shots. But it was the sharpshooting of Vandeweghe that turned the game because Charles Barkley matched Ewing in brilliance.

Vandeweghe, who missed most of the past two seasons because of injuries, was 11 for 18 from the field. He scored 12 points to lead a 33-15 spurt in the second quarter that gave the Knicks a lead they never relinquished.

Barkley had 39 points and 15 rebounds to lead the 76ers, who lead the Atlantic by 2 1/2 games over Boston.

Boston 109, Cleveland 104--Larry Bird had a poor night shooting, but the Celtics managed to put a dent in the Cavaliers’ playoff hopes at Richfield, Ohio.

Bird was only four for 17 from the field, but had 15 rebounds and 10 assists to go with his 11 points for his ninth triple-double of the season.

While Bird had trouble with his shooting, the other Celtic forward, Kevin McHale, was 13 for 19 from the field and scored 30 points.

The Cavaliers (35-39) dropped into a tie with Atlanta for the final playoff spot in the conference.

Denver 119, Seattle 103--Veterans Alex English and Walter Davis led the Nuggets at Denver.

English had 25 points and Davis 20 as the Nuggets took over the seventh playoff spot. The Nuggets have a 38-36 record and Seattle is 37-37. The Nuggets are 2 1/2 games ahead of ninth-place Houston.

Golden State 123, New Jersey 117--With Chris Mullin returning to form after an illness, the Warriors have battled back into the playoff picture.

The Warriors are two games out of the eighth playoff position, but they have moved to within one-half game of Houston, the ninth place club.

Indiana 123, Orlando 115--Reggie Miller scored 16 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter at Orlando, Fla., and the Pacers ended a three-game losing streak.

The Pacers moved back to the .500 mark (37-37) and strengthened their grip on seventh place in the East. They lead Cleveland and Atlanta by two games.

Charlotte 108, Minnesota 93--Kelly Tripucka is such a good shooter that he can’t believe it when he doesn’t make every shot.

In this game at Charlotte, Tripucka, playing with a tender knee, missed 11 of his first 12 shots. He made six of his last eight to lead the Hornets to their second victory in a row.