NBA ROUNDUP : Rockets Beat Spurs in Second Overtime

The days when a great center can produce a dominant NBA team appear to be gone.

The San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets probably have the two best centers in David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon, respectively. But both teams are struggling to stay above .500.

The two centers tangled Saturday night at San Antonio and the veteran Olajuwon and his Rockets prevailed in two overtimes, 112-110.

Olajuwon scored 10 of his 27 points in the second overtime to bring the Rockets (17-14) from behind. However, it took a desperate three-pointer by Sleepy Floyd to get them to the second overtime.

With the Spurs leading, 101-99, one minute into the second overtime, Olajuwon made four consecutive baskets and the Rockets were home free. Three-pointers by Sean Elliott and Robinson made it close, but they came too late.

Robinson had 17 points and 16 rebounds, but he made only six of 15 shots. Elliott led the Spurs (16-14) with 22 points and 17 rebounds. His two free throws with 15 seconds remaining in regulation tied the score, 85-85.

The Spurs appeared to have it won when two free throws by Willie Anderson with .7 seconds to play in the first overtime gave them a 97-94 lead.

But Floyd’s three-pointer as time expired swished through the net.

Golden State 140, Indiana 121--The Warriors start one of the shortest teams in the NBA, but they are rolling along in front of the Pacific Division.

Coach Don Nelson starts a team that averages 6 feet 6 and is 21-8.

Chris Mullin, a short forward at 6-7, scored 33 points at Oakland to lead the Warriors past the Pacers.

Their fifth victory in a row gave the Warriors a 2 1/2-game lead over Portland.

Chicago 140, New Jersey 96--It is unfortunate scheduling for a team to have to play the NBA champion Bulls after they lose.

The Nets never had a chance at Chicago. The Bulls, who lost only their fifth game of the season at Milwaukee on Friday, were ready from the opening tipoff.

Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, who spent most of the second half on the bench, each scored 11 points during the first quarter to open a 36-28 lead.

The margin steadily increased, and it became a rout during the second half. Using mostly reserves, the Bulls outscored the Nets, 74-42, in the last 24 minutes.

Minnesota 100, Boston 96--The Celtics have not been sharp all season in the second of consecutive games. And with Larry Bird sitting out his second game in a row because of a back problem, they couldn’t handle the Timberwolves at Minneapolis.

Tony Campbell scored 34 points and Felton Spencer had a season-high 18 and 11 rebounds to lead the Timberwolves to their fifth victory in 29 games. Spencer sank two free throws with 24 seconds left to put the game out of reach.

Minnesota Coach Jimmy Rodgers was fired by the Celtics after the 1990 season.

“I never met a win I didn’t like,” Rodgers said. “Whether it’s Boston, it doesn’t make any difference. We just need to win.”

Chris Ford, who succeeded Rodgers, was upset.

“It’s embarrassing for me, but I don’t know about those guys,” he said, pointing to the Celtics’ locker room. “They have to stop making excuses and go out and play.”

The Celtics didn’t know if Bird will return for their game Monday against Sacramento.

New York 113, Washington 99--Patrick Ewing scored 24 points and had a season-high 19 rebounds at Landover, Md.

The Knicks, who improved their road record to 7-7, increased their lead in the Atlantic Division to 1 1/2 games over Boston.

When Michael Adams missed eight of his first nine shots, the Bullets, who had won three in a row and six out of seven, fell behind and could never get even.

Adams finished with 23 points, leading a fourth-quarter rally that came within six points.

It appeared that the Knicks benefited from the league’s ruling that they couldn’t practice Friday. The ruling came about because Coach Pat Riley illegally practiced his team New Year’s Day.

Charlotte 113, Phoenix 108--When the Suns started their trip East, they had won five in a row.

But for the second game in a row, guards Kevin Johnson and Jeff Hornacek couldn’t find the range. They sank only 12 of 31 shots at Charlotte and the Suns lost their second in a row.

Rookie Larry Johnson had 23 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Hornets to their ninthvictory in 33 games.

Utah 113, Dallas 78----The Jazz, in stretching their lead in the Midwest Division to three games, put up a near-perfect defense at Salt Lake City.

The Malones, Karl and Jeff, threatened for a time to outscore the Mavericks themselves, but settled for 50 points, 26 by Karl.

It was the 12th consecutive victory at home for the Jazz and the fourth loss in a row for the Mavericks. The Mavericks scored only 34 points during the first half.

Denver 93, Orlando 91--Reggie Williams was cold from the field, but he made five free throws in the last 50 seconds at Denver to give the Nuggets the victory.

Williams was three for 17 and that shooting helped the Magic lead most of the game, once by 13 points.

Rookie Dikembe Mutombo had one of his worst games for the Nuggets, getting only 11 points and seven rebounds.

Philadelphia 112, Seattle 93--Charles Barkley scored 32 points for the 76ers at Seattle as they ended a three-game road losing streak.

Barkley had six points during a 10-2 run that opened a 81-62 lead during the third quarter.

Miami 110, Sacramento 97--The Heat held the Kings to 16 points during the third quarter at Sacramento and rallied to win for the fourth time in 17 road games.

Glen Rice had 22 points for the Heat, which scored 29 during the third quarter after trailing by three at halftime.