NBA ROUNDUP : Olajuwon Puts Rockets Back on Course, 102-86

Hakeem Olajuwon snapped out of a mild slump at Houston Wednesday night and the Rockets resumed their drive toward the Midwest Division title.

Olajuwon, who had two poor games in a row, scored 22 points and had 22 rebounds to lead the Rockets to a 102-86 romp over Dallas. Houston’s 15th victory in the last 16 games left the Rockets one game out of first place in the Midwest Division.

A little over a month ago, the Rockets were without Olajuwon and more concerned with making the playoffs than shooting for a division title.

But they learned to win without Olajuwon, and when he rejoined them, the Rockets were already on a roll.

In his previous two games, Olajuwon was only 10 for 28 from the field. They lost the first, ending their 13-game winning streak. Wednesday, he was eight for 12 and the Rockets are on a new winning streak.

“I’m happy with my game,” Olajuwon told the Associated Press. “Our whole team has made it easier for me by the way they are playing.”

Vern Maxwell, although only four for 11 on three-point shots, scored 27 points for the Rockets. The Rockets dominated from the outset. They held Dallas, which has lost 12 of its last 15 games, to 13 points in the first quarter and led, 52-35, at halftime.

The lead jumped to 21 points before a 20-6 run by the Mavericks made it interesting briefly.

The Rockets impressed Dallas center James Donaldson.

“They’re an extremely big team inside now,” he said. “The reason they’re playing well is they aren’t afraid of missing shots. They figure they’ll get the rebound.”

Seattle 106, Sacramento 91--Midway through the third quarter, the Kings were playing Seattle tough. But they resorted to their usual performance on the road and extended their record for consecutive road defeats to 33 games.

Only consolation for the Kings, 19-16 at home, is that they have only four road games remaining.

Sacramento led, 66-64, with 5:24 left in the third quarter, but Seattle outscored the Kings, 16-4, the rest of the quarter.

Antoine Carr scored 29 points for Sacramento.

Philadelphia 107, Indiana 104--The 76ers, playing without both of their power players, caught the Pacers napping at Indianapolis.

Rick Mahorn joined Charles Barkley on the sidelines, but the 76ers, after blowing a 14-point lead, outlasted the Pacers.

Indiana, trying to nail down the seventh playoff spot in the East, took an 89-87 lead in the fourth quarter, but Hersey Hawkins and Armon Gilliam rallied the 76ers.

Barkley is out two weeks with a knee injury, and Mahorn has a bruised heel.

Cleveland 95, New York 84--The shorthanded Cavaliers shocked the Knicks at Richfield, Ohio.

Brad Daugherty was out with a knee injury, but Larry Nance returned and scored 10 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter.

Golden State 127, Miami 114--Chris Mullin scored 12 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter at Oakland as the Warriors clinched a playoff spot.