NBA ROUNDUP : Rockets Beat Jazz, Extend Streak to 17 Out of 18

The Houston Rockets continued their drive toward the top of the Midwest Division with a 97-88 victory over the Utah JazzSaturday night at Houston.

Their 17th victory in 18 games put the Rockets a half-game behind San Antonio and a full game ahead of Utah.

Sleepy Floyd came off the bench to score 22 points and the Rockets took charge in the second quarter.

Floyd scored 11 points in 10 minutes in the second quarter and the Rockets were never headed.

It has been a sensational turnaround for the Rockets. Early in the season, they depended on center Hakeem Olajuwon to do it all. When he was stopped or slowed, the Rockets lost.

Olajuwon suffered a broken eye socket and the Rockets learned how to win without him. Since his return they have stopped depending on him to do it all.

Now, it seems there is a different star every game. Friday night at Denver it was Vernon Maxwell, who scored 45 points and made eight three-pointers.

It was because Maxwell was cold in this one (two for 12 from the field) that Floyd was given the opportunity. He made the most of his chance.

Buck Johnson led the Rockets with 23 points, and Olajuwon had 17 rebounds and gave the Rockets control of the boards. However, he made only six of 15 shots.

Karl Malone kept the Jazz in the game, getting 31 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. But his teammates had only 18 rebounds, while the Rockets had 52.

New York 101, Detroit 88--The Knicks were not awed by the return of Isiah Thomas and they dominated from start to finish at New York to clinch the final playoff spot in the East.

Patrick Ewing scored 14 of his 35 points during the fourth quarter, when the Knicks broke open a close game. The loss ended the Pistons’ slim hopes of winning their fourth consecutive Central Division title.

Thomas, who returned Friday night after being sidelined nine weeks because of wrist surgery to lead the Pistons to victory, didn’t fare too well in back-to-back games. He was six for 14 and had 16 points.

The Knicks, who blew a 24-point lead and lost to Chicago Thursday night, led by 16 until the Pistons rallied during the third quarter. A three-point play by Thomas cut the lead to 72-70, but Ewing scored the last eight points in a 16-4 spurt that settled the outcome.

Thomas, who played 33 minutes Friday night, played 32 against the Knicks.

“Generally, I feel good, but at the same time there is a bit of tentativeness to my play,” Thomas said. “I can make a strong move, but I can’t finish it the way I usually do.”

Thomas, who returned six weeks sooner than his doctor predicted he would, committed six turnovers.

The Pistons and Knicks probably will be opponents in the first round of the playoffs.

Orlando 102, Boston 98--The Celtics, playing without Larry Bird, couldn’t hold a seven-point lead in the closing minutes at Orlando and their hopes of posting the best record in the East were dealt a blow.

Bird, again bothered by back spasms, took a day off. Most of the game, with Robert Parish and Kevin McHale leading the way, the Celtics had things in hand.

But Scott Skiles, who signed a new contract before the game, led a rally by the Magic. He scored 26 points, including the basket that put the Magic ahead for good, 96-94, with 1:48 to play.

The Magic, which blew a lead against Portland Friday night, won its 27th game. Last season, its first, it won 18.

The Celtics fell to 54-21 and trail Chicago by 1 1/2 games in the overall standings. With only seven games left, the Celtics have lost two more games than the Bulls.

Ed Pinckney, Bird’s replacement, had 17 rebounds in 35 minutes, but only four points.

Skiles, who also had eight assists, signed a multiyear contract believed to be for about $2 million per season.

Parish, 10 for 16 from the field, had 25 points and 15 rebounds. McHale, nine for 11, had 18 points.

Atlanta 137, Indiana 110--The Hawks picked a great time to emerge from their slump.

With Dominique Wilkins and guards Spud Webb and Glenn Rivers leading the offense, the Hawks ended a four-game losing streak and took a firm grip on the fifth playoff spot in the East.

The Pacers, in a late-season drive, had pulled close. But the defeat dropped them below .500 again and 3 1/2 games behind the Hawks.

After the first half ended with the score tied, 65-65, the Hawks took charge with a 72-point second half. Wilkins had 30 points and 10 rebounds and Webb had 27 points and nine assists. Rivers had 25 points.

Milwaukee 133, New Jersey 114--Fred Roberts, a journeyman forward until he blossomed for the Bucks in his eighth NBA season, scored a career-high 34 points at Milwaukee.

Roberts scored six during a 25-11 run in the last half of the third quarter that broke the game open.

It was the 18th loss in a row on the road for the Nets.

Sacramento 119, Golden State 108--On the road the Kings can’t win for losing, but at home they are a pretty good team.

The Kings, 1-36 on the road, won their fourth in a row at Sacramento, where they have a 20-16 record.

Lionel Simmons scored 31 points for the Kings, who made five three-point baskets in the fourth quarter. Jim Les had four three-pointers as Sacramento was seven of nine for the game.

Antoine Carr added 27 points for Sacramento. Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond each had 28 for the Warriors.