NBA ROUNDUP : Rockets Clinch Playoff Berth, 90-69

The Houston Rockets clinched a playoff berth while holding the Washington Bullets to a franchise-low scoring total Friday night at Landover, Md.

Vernon Maxwell had 18 points and Robert Horry scored five of his nine points during a 13-0 third-quarter run that gave Houston a cushion en route to a 90-69 victory.

The Rockets, who got a season-low 10 points but 17 rebounds from Hakeem Olajuwon, have won 16 of 20 games and 14 of 19 on the road.

Washington, getting 14 points from LaBradford Smith, made only 33% of its shots while losing for the 16th time in 20 games. The 69 points eclipsed the previous low set during an 85-71 loss on Feb. 26, 1974, against New York and tied Nov. 2, 1975 in a 111-71 defeat at Golden State.

“You can’t win on the road, you’ve gotta hold them down, you’ve got to feed off of it, you’ve got to get some cheap stuff out of stealing the ball, and we got a lot of those,” Houston Coach Rudy Tomjanovich said.

The Bullets keyed much of their defensive effort toward stopping Olajuwon, the NBA’s sixth-leading scorer with a 25.5 average.

“Maybe (he intimidated us) to some degree,” Unseld said.

Chicago 107, Orlando 86--Scottie Pippen scored 20 points and Horace Grant scored 13 of his 17 points in the third quarter as the Bulls pulled away at Chicago.

The Bulls outscored Orlando, 38-21, in the third quarter to record their fifth consecutive victory and eighth in their last 10 games.

Phoenix 109, Milwaukee 103--Danny Ainge, after going scoreless for 2:30, made two free throws with 51.7 seconds to play, leading the Suns at Phoenix.

Charles Barkley, who had 31 points and 15 rebounds, made a free throw and grabbed a crucial rebound in the last 22 seconds, pulling down a missed shot by Eric Murdock that led to two more free throws by Ainge with nine seconds to play.

Utah 104, San Antonio 98--Jeff Malone had 28 points and Karl Malone 25 at San Antonio as the Jazz handed the Spurs only their seventh home-court loss in 33 games.

John Stockton added 22 points and 13 assists for Utah, which has won three consecutive games.

Detroit 115, Charlotte 107--Dennis Rodman had 25 rebounds and a season-high 18 points, and Isiah Thomas tied a season high with 40 points at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Alonzo Mourning had 23 points and 13 rebounds, and Muggsy Bogues 20 points and 11 assists. But the Hornets lost for the fourth time in five games.

Golden State 94, Minnesota 91--Andre Spencer, playing in only his fifth NBA game, scored eight of his 14 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Warriors at Minneapolis.

The Warriors won only their third game in their last 10 despite having eight players dressed. Spencer was signed Tuesday to a 10-day contract. He played three games earlier this season with Atlanta and has played in the Continental Basketball Assn. and for three European teams in his career.

Cleveland 103, Philadelphia 84--Brad Daugherty had 23 points and 16 rebounds as the Cavaliers won at Philadelphia.

Mark Price added 18 points for Cleveland, which has won its last four games at the Spectrum.

The 76ers have lost eight of nine games and 22 of 26, including six of seven home games. They have also scored fewer than 100 points in 10 of their last 12 games.

Boston 106, Dallas 97--Robert Parish and Dee Brown keyed a fourth-quarter rally as the Celtics kept the Mavericks winless at Boston Garden.

The Celtics, who never led by more than one point through the first three quarters, were led by Parish’s 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Miami 110, New Jersey 100--The Heat extended its record home winning streak to 12 games, beating the Nets behind Glen Rice’s 27 points.

Derrick Coleman had 32 points and Rumeal Robinson 27 for the Nets.