NBA ROUNDUP : Rapid Heartbeat Puts Olajuwon Into a Hospital

The Houston Rockets had to learn last season how to win without Hakeem Olajuwon. Apparently, they didn’t forget what they learned.

With Olajuwon hospitalized because of irregular heart palpitations, his replacement, Larry Smith, helped the Rockets to a 106-102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night at Houston.

Olajuwon drove himself to a hospital late Wednesday after feeling a rapid heart rate. Olajuwon later was transferred to Memorial Southwest Hospital for more extensive tests, his physician, Dr. David Rothschild, said.

Doctors determined Olajuwon was experiencing atrial fibrillation but were unsure what caused the problem, General Manager Steve Patterson said.

“We don’t know for sure what’s wrong with Hakeem,” Patterson said. “His condition is similar to the episode suffered recently by President George Bush. At this time he is showing no distress and no damage to his lungs or heart.”

Olajuwon is expected to miss two or three games, Patterson said.

It is possible the pain in the heart area could have been caused Tuesday night when Patrick Ewing of the New York Knicks hit Olajuwon in the chest with an elbow.

“He did get a real good shot to the chest by Ewing to the point where he even bent over a bit,” Houston Coach Don Chaney said. “He isn’t experiencing pain now, though.”

When the 7-foot center was sidelined because of an eye injury last season, the Rockets were 16-10.

Smith, 6-8, is a 12-year veteran who excels in rebounding. He has never been much of a scorer but provided some offense in Olajuwon’s absence.

In 34 minutes against the Timberwolves, Smith had 16 rebounds and was five for eight from the field.

Playmaker Kenny Smith scored five of his 19 points in the last 38 seconds to thwart Minnesota’s last rally.

Milwaukee 112, Washington 87--Maybe the talent-laden Rockets could win without their best player, but the Bullets couldn’t.

Michael Adams, No. 4 in scoring (27.9 points) and No. 2 in assists (9.5), didn’t make the trip to Milwaukee, and the Bullets never had a hope.

Adams suffered an injured back and right wrist in a collision with Seattle’s Ricky Pierce Tuesday night. He joins top forwards Bernard King (knee surgery) and John Williams (suspended for being overweight) on the sidelines. His return is indefinite.

Dale Ellis scored seven of his 18 points in an 18-1 spurt in the third quarter that turned the game into a rout.

Cleveland 116, New Jersey 112--The return to form of Mark Price means the Cavaliers are capable of overcoming big deficits.

Price sat out most of last season because of knee surgery and was concerned how well his knee would hold up playing consecutive games. He scored 18 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter at Richfield, Ohio, including 10 of Cleveland’s last 11 points.

The Cavaliers trailed by 17 at halftime and by six going into the last quarter.

“I didn’t know whether I could play back to back,” Price said. “I do now.”