NBA ROUNDUP : Maxwell Fades, but Smith Keeps Rockets Flying

When last seen in action, Houston’s Vernon Maxwell was joining an elite group by scoring 30 points in the fourth quarter Saturday night at Houston.

Maxwell came to earth with a thud Tuesday night on the same court. The Rockets’ third-year guard missed his first 10 shots and scored only four points against San Antonio, making two of 16 shots.

But the Rockets’ other guard, Kenny Smith picked up the slack and Houston beat the Midwest Division leaders, 91-89.

Smith, who had 23 points and eight assists, scored the Rockets’ last eight points, including the winner on a 10-foot bank shot with 1.8 seconds to play.

The Rockets, who ended the Spurs’ five-game winning streak, opened a 13-point lead early in the third quarter but trailed by seven points with four minutes to play.

Smith brought the Rockets back. He made a key steal from David Robinson, then scored three baskets in a row.

The Spurs were without Terry Cummings, who suffered a broken hand Monday night.

Although the Spurs went into the game with the second-best record in the NBA, Coach Larry Brown has not been happy with their play lately. “We have not been ready to play at the start,” Brown said. “Most of the time we managed to rally and pull out the victory. This time we didn’t.”

Robinson had one of his infrequent off nights. Although he had 17 rebounds, he blocked only one shot and scored only 16 points.

Orlando 114, Phoenix 112--Expansion teams live for such moments. Otis Smith tipped in his missed shot with three seconds to play at Orlando to end the Magic’s six-game losing streak.

It was only the 11th victory in 43 games for Orlando. But beating a western powerhouse made it even sweeter.

The Suns, winners of eight of their 10 previous games, rallied from a 91-75 deficit by making five three-pointers and went ahead, 111-108, with 35 seconds to play.

But the Magic tied the score at and had the ball with 10 seconds left. Smith tried a running jumper, missed and made good on his second chance.

A three-point attempt by the Suns’ Dan Majerle fell short as the game ended.

Utah 116, Atlanta 105--The Hawks scored 71 points in the first half at Salt Lake City and didn’t really fall apart until the last quarter.

Their 23-point lead was cut to 13 after three quarters before Karl Malone and John Stockton brought Utah back, sparking a 36-12 surge. Malone had 29 points; Stockton had 25 points and 19 assists.

Denver 126, Milwaukee 122--It took half of the season for Paul Westhead to get his system to work and now the Nuggets are rolling.

With Michael Adams, their new leader, scoring 41 points at Milwaukee, the Nuggets scored their fourth victory in a row. They have won six of eight after going 6-28 to open the season.

It was the sixth loss in a row for the Bucks, but only their second loss in 22 home games.

Dallas 117, Seattle 112--Randy White scored 10 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter at Dallas to lead the Mavericks to their third victory in their last 10 games.

The SuperSonics, despite 24 points by Derrick McKey and 23 by Dale Ellis, lost their eighth road game in a row.

Washington 105, Miami 101--The Bullets ended a three-game losing streak by beating the Heat at Landover, Md.

Bernard King had 26 points and rookie A. J. English scored four points in a row in the final two minutes to clinch the victory.

Cleveland 125, Charlotte 106-- The Cavaliers made 17 of 18 shots from the field in the second quarter at Richfield, Ohio, to outscore the Hornets, 41-18, and romp to victory.

Chuckie Brown scored 15 of his 17 points in the quarter for the Cavaliers.