NBA ROUNDUP : Olajuwon Sits Out Again and Rockets Lose Again

Hakeem Olajuwon says he has a hamstring injury. Houston management says he is faking for purposes of renegotiating his contract and suspended him.

If the controversy doesn’t end soon, it could result in both the Clippers and Lakers making it to the playoffs. The Rockets, Seattle SuperSonics, Clippers and Lakers are vying for the last three playoff spots in the West.

Olajuwon, the Rockets’ leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker, sat out his third consecutive game Tuesday night at Seattle, and the Rockets now have lost three in a row.

Shawn Kemp, replacing the injured Benoit Benjamin, scored seven of his 19 points during a 21-9 third-quarter burst that broke the game open and gave the SuperSonics a 128-106 victory.

Seattle took a 1 1/2-game lead over the Clippers for sixth place in the West. The Rockets trail the Clippers by half a game and lead the Lakers by the same margin. The Rockets will play the Clippers at the Sports Arena on Thursday night.

Chicago 116, Denver 103--Michael Jordan, who had 51 points against Washington Thursday night, had 50 as the Bulls beat the Nuggets at Chicago.

The Nuggets, who have won only six of 35 road games, cut a 21-point deficit to 79-71 during the third quarter and trailed by, 95-90, with 7:32 to play before Jordan made two quick baskets to end the rally.

Jordan has had 50 or more points 23 times.

Reggie Williams led the Nuggets with 32 points, but rookie Dikembe Mutombo had only 14 points and 12 rebounds, even though the Bull center Bill Cartwright did not play because of a knee injury.

Jordan was 18 for 31 from the field and had 25 points in each half.

“When we cut it to five,” Coach Paul Westhead said, “they went into another gear----the Jordan gear.”

Cleveland 128, Indiana 113--The Cavaliers are cruising into the playoffs and making life tough for some aspiring teams.

Brad Daugherty had 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists at Richfield, Ohio, and the Cavaliers beat a playoff hopeful once again. The Cavaliers trounced Atlanta Sunday to clinch a spot in postseason play.

The Hawks and Pacers are among six teams trying for the final three positions in the Eastern Conference.

The Cavaliers made their first 11 shots, taking a 24-7 lead.

New York 126, Orlando 117--Patrick Ewing scored 16 of his 31 points during the first quarter at New York to give the Knicks a lead they never relinquished on the way to their fourth consecutive victory.

The Magic, which won at Chicago Sunday after trailing by 20 points during the fourth quarter, threatened a repeat. Trailing, 102-87, the Magic closed to 114-109 with two minutes to play before falling back.

The Knicks, with 14 games left, lead Boston by 4 1/2 games in the Atlantic Division.

Portland 109, Dallas 83--After taking a 48-32 halftime lead at Portland against the Mavericks, the Trail Blazers used reserves to easily extend Dallas’ losing streak to 14 games.

Terry Porter had 19 points for the Trail Blazers, who are 28-6 at home and clinched a playoff berth.

Sacramento 113, Milwaukee 102--Wayman Tisdale had 28 points and Mitch Richmond 26 as the Kings handed the Bucks their club-record 17th consecutive loss on the road.