NBA ROUNDUP : Olajuwon Celebrates 30th Birthday by Scoring 38

Hakeem Olajuwon is certainly adept at providing his own birthday present.

He did it again on Thursday night, celebrating his 30th birthday with 38 points, including eight in the final 6:22, leading the Houston Rockets to a 126-120 victory over the Detroit Pistons at Houston. It was the Rockets’ seventh victory in a row after seven consecutive losses.

It also was their fifth victory in a row when Olajuwon plays on his birthday, including 117-107 against Milwaukee last year.

“I played better than trying to blow out the candles,” Olajuwon said, referring to his failure to blow out trick candles on his pregame cake.

Olajuwon missed a game on his birthday in 1991 because of an injury and the Rockets lost to Sacramento, 97-94.

“He looks like he’s playing younger now,” guard Kenny Smith said of Olajuwon.

Joe Dumars scored 32 points and Isiah Thomas scored 30 for the Pistons, who lost their fourth consecutive game and their sixth in a row on the road.

Chicago 107, New Jersey 94--Michael Jordan scored 30 points at East Rutherford, N.J., and the Bulls ended the Nets’ five-game winning streak.

Scottie Pippen and B.J. Armstrong, who made his first five shots after coming off the bench, added 18 points for Chicago. Horace Grant had 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Kenny Anderson and Derrick Coleman scored 22 points for New Jersey, with Anderson also handing out 12 assists and Coleman getting 12 rebounds.

Denver 110, Dallas 94--The Mavericks, with their best chance of the season to win consecutive games, couldn’t pull it off at Dallas, as the Nuggets ended a 13-game road losing streak.

Chris Jackson scored 24 points, including two key baskets during a decisive fourth-quarter run, sending the Mavericks to their 31st loss in 34 games. Dallas defeated Detroit on Tuesday night, snapping a 15-game losing streak.

Reggie Williams had 19 points and LaPhonso Ellis grabbed 16 rebounds. Tracy Moore scored 16 points and Terry Davis grabbed 19 rebounds for the Mavericks.

Denver is 2-18 on the road this season, with its only other victory coming at the Sports Arena against the Clippers on Nov. 27.

Milwaukee 110, Indiana 108-- Blue Edwards scored 27 points and Todd Day 24 as the Bucks ended a seven-game losing streak by defeating the Pacers at Indianapolis.

The Bucks did not allow the Pacers a field goal in the final 4:06. The Pacers had a chance to win in the final seconds, but, with Milwaukee leading, 109-108, Indiana’s George McCloud threw the ball away.