NBA ROUNDUP : Houston Watches Dallas Do It Again

Maybe it’s the thought of facing the powerful Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs that is keeping the Lakers and the Houston Rockets from finishing the season with a flourish.

First, the Lakers lost successive games at Denver and Sacramento, teams that currently have 24-57 and 29-53 records.

Then, the Rockets stooped further. They lost twice in a row to Dallas, one of the weakest teams in the league.

Needing only one victory to secure a playoff spot, the Rockets squandered a 12-point lead and lost to the Mavericks, 109-106, Friday night at Dallas.

When the teams met last Saturday night at Houston, the Mavericks, trying to rebuild with rookies, had lost 26 in a row on the road and 19 of their previous 21.

The Rockets still have control over their destiny, however.

If they win Sunday night at home against Phoenix, they will secure a place in the playoffs.

If they lose, they would still get in, unless the Lakers win both today at Portland and Sunday night at home against the Clippers.

The Rockets started out Friday night as if they planned on their own celebration, but they faltered in the second half.

The Mavericks’ Herb Williams, who had 24 points, made a clutch free throw to break the tie in the closing seconds.

Hakeem Olajuwon did his part for the Rockets. He had 33 points and 13 rebounds. But he made only one of two free throws when the score was tied, 106-106, with 34 seconds left.

Olajuwon then fouled Williams, who made the first one. He missed the second, but Rodney McCray grabbed the miss. With 12 seconds left, rookie Mike Iuzzolino was fouled and converted both free throws for the victory.

“It’s the worst nightmare of my life,” Houston Coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. “We let the Mavericks go crazy in the fourth quarter. This is terrible. We didn’t close the door on the playoffs when we had the chance. We’ll never have a better opportunity.”

Maverick Coach Richie Adubato, who has survived a rocky season, thought it was great.

“The two wins over the Rockets are something special.

“We thought that playing our rookies, we would really be in for it tonight. I liked the way our kids held up. It gives us a starting point for next season.”

Chicago 121, Atlanta 95--Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen weren’t in a mood to take pity on the Hawks at Atlanta.

Both played three quarters of the game, Jordan getting 21 points and Pippen 20 as the Bulls warmed up for defense of their title.

The loss dropped the Hawks into a tie with Miami for the final playoff position in the East.

The Hawks and Heat are 38-43, and New Jersey is in seventh place at 39-42.

Any two of the three teams could still qualify.

The Nets, if they can beat Orlando, the weakest team in the conference, will finish fifth.

If both Miami and Atlanta lose, the Heat will become the first recent expansion team to qualify. Miami plays at Boston Sunday, and Atlanta plays at Cleveland.

Utah 120, Minnesota 106--Jeff Malone had a season-high 35 points and Karl Malone had 25 at Salt Lake City. The Jazz wound up with the best home record (37-4) in the NBA.

Utah finishes on Sunday at San Antonio, where a victory would give the Jazz the second-best record in the West and assure a home-court advantage in the second round of the playoffs.

“Sunday’s game will be a big game because we want the second-best record in the West,” Blue Edwards said. “We have played well at home, but we still need to prove ourselves on the road.”

Seattle 130, Sacramento 106--Shawn Kemp had 24 points and 14 rebounds as he returned to the starting lineup at Seattle.

The SuperSonics remained tied with San Antonio for the fifth playoff spot in the West. “There is a confidence with this team that was not there a month ago,” Seattle Coach George Karl said.

The SuperSonics fine-tuned their pressure defense--especially in the first half when they forced 15 turnovers.

San Antonio 108, Denver 94--Terry Cummings had 34 points and 11 rebounds at San Antonio to lead the Spurs to victory.

Cleveland 107, Indiana 102--The Cavaliers did not take long to take control at Indianapolis. After eight minutes they led, 27-11.

Then, Cleveland Coach Lenny Wilkens rested his regulars and the Pacers made a game of it.

Philadelphia 122, Charlotte 112--Armon Gilliam had 30 points to help the 76ers end a five-game losing streak in a game at Charlotte.