NBA ROUNDUP : At 6-8, Rockets’ Smith Is Passing Board Exam

The Houston Rockets are rebounding from the loss of Akeem Olajuwon.

Larry Smith had 23 rebounds Thursday night--his third 20-plus performance in the past five games--as the Rockets beat the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves, 118-94.

Otis Thorpe scored 23 points and had 12 rebounds as the Rockets outrebounded Minnesota, 53-32.

While replacing Olajuwon for the past 11 games, the 6-foot-8 Smith has pulled down 156 rebounds, 14.2 a game.

“I can’t do half the things he does,” Smith said of Olajuwon. “I’m roaming around more in the center position and that allows me to get my hands on the basketball more often.

“You can’t replace Akeem. You just work harder.”

Kenny Smith added 22 points and eight assists and Vernon Maxwell had 19 points and 10 assists for Houston. Smith has made 25 of his last 33 shots.

San Antonio 111, Cleveland 103--David Robinson scored 30 points and the Spurs made 13 free throws in the final three minutes at San Antonio, handing the Cavaliers their 13th loss in 15 games.

Terry Cummings added 18 points for the Spurs, who won for the 18th time in 23 games. San Antonio is 15-3 at home this season.

There were 63 fouls called, 28 in the final quarter.

“I think the referees were especially sensitive to the physical contact under the boards,” Robinson said. “When we played them in Cleveland, Bruce (Alexander) was the referee and we had a couple of incidents.”

Alexander made sure Thursday’s game stayed under control by calling 17 fouls on the Cavaliers in the final 12 minutes, a record for a Spur opponent in one quarter. San Antonio also matched a franchise record with 11 fouls in the quarter.

Cleveland was led by Larry Nance with 32 points. Brad Daugherty fouled out with 8:09 to play and finished with only 11 points.

Denver 120, New York 117--Michael Adams scored 31 points as the Nuggets overcame 30 points and 16 rebounds by Patrick Ewing and rallied at Denver to end the Knicks’ three-game winning streak.

The Nuggets played with only nine men after Walter Davis was traded to Portland and Terry Mills to New Jersey. Greg Anderson, obtained from New Jersey in a three-way trade also involving draft choices, had not arrived.

Blair Rasmussen had 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Nuggets.

Orlando Woolridge, averaging 29 points before being sidelined last month with an eye injury, was activated Thursday, but didn’t play.