NBA ROUNDUP : Olajuwon Leads Rockets Past Winless Magic

Akeem Olajuwon, staying out of foul trouble, had 25 points and 19 rebounds as the Houston Rockets beat the winless Orlando Magic, 103-99, Thursday night at Houston.

Olajuwon fouled out of two of the Rockets’ first three games and was in foul trouble in the other. Coach Don Chaney talked briefly with the veteran center about it during Wednesday’s practice.

“It wasn’t something to worry about,” Olajuwon said. “I’ve been in this league six years and I know how to play in it.”

The Rockets led by 16 points in the first half, but Orlando came back to lead by one at the end of the third quarter. The Magic stayed even much of the fourth quarter before Olajuwon took over. He scored 13 in the quarter, nine in the final 5:41.

Kenny Smith added 17 points, and Otis Thorpe and Vernon Maxwell had 16 apiece for the Rockets.

Dennis Scott had 28 points for the Magic.

Milwaukee 141, Philadelphia 111--Ricky Pierce scored 28 points to lead the Bucks past the 76ers at Milwaukee.

The 76ers were forced to play most of the game without starting guard Johnny Dawkins, who injured his right knee in the first quarter while attempting a shot under the basket. The preliminary diagnosis was a torn ligament.

New York 114, Washington 103--Patrick Ewing had 32 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocked shots in the Knicks’ victory at New York.

The Knicks, who lost two of their first three games after leading by at least 16 points in all of them, had no margin larger than four until the fourth quarter, when Ewing started an 8-2 run with six points as New York took a 96-88 lead with 8:22 left.

Charles Oakley had 17 points and 13 rebounds for New York.

Bernard King scored 30 points and A.J. English added 15 for the Bullets, who shot 34.9% in the second half, compared to 54.7% in the first.

Utah 103, San Antonio 94--The Spurs lost to the Jazz at Salt Lake City for 13th consecutive time dating to Feb. 3, 1986.

John Stockton scored 24 points to lead the Jazz, and Jeff Malone had 19 points, 17 in the second half. Karl Malone scored only 14 points, but nine came in the final 5:34.

Terry Cummings had 25 points for San Antonio and David Robinson scored 22.

New Jersey 114, Miami 103--First-round draft choices Derrick Coleman and Tate George sparked a 9-3 run at the start of the fourth quarter to help the Nets beat the Heat at East Rutherford, N.J.

Reggie Theus scored 24 points for New Jersey and Mookie Blaylock added 22.

Coleman, the first pick in the draft, finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Sherman Douglas had 24 points for Miami.