NBA ROUNDUP : Rockets Return to Their Winning Ways, 99-98

The Houston Rockets, coming off their only loss this season, could not seem to do anything right Sunday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Hakeem Olajuwon wasn’t worried.

Vernon Maxwell made a three-point basket with 31 seconds left and the Rockets went on to win, 99-98, at Richfield, Ohio.

“We raised the intensity toward the end,” said Olajuwon, who scored 22 points. “I knew we’d have to make a run. I was still confident, with little doubt.”

The Rockets improved to 16-1 after their season-opening 15-game winning streak ended Friday night in Atlanta. The Cavaliers (6-9) lost for the third consecutive time after blowing a big lead.

The Cavaliers, who led the entire game until Maxwell’s three-pointer, were ahead by 11 with about seven minutes left.

But Olajuwon made the next three baskets before Maxwell’s basket put Houston ahead, 95-93. Olajuwon and Otis Thorpe each added a free throw before Gerald Wilkins ended Cleveland’s scoreless streak with six seconds left with a short jumper.

Olajuwon’s dunk with four seconds left sealed the victory.

Phoenix 117, Milwaukee 98--Charles Barkley scored 23 points and Kevin Johnson scored 21 points and had 10 assists for the Suns at Milwaukee.

The Suns, who have won six in a row over the Bucks, pulled away with a 10-0 spurt to end the third quarter and an 11-0 run in the fourth.

It was the Suns’ eighth victory in nine games.

“We played great defense at the end of the third and beginning of the fourth,” Barkley said. “We got our fast break going and a lot of easy baskets.”

Dan Majerle added 20 points and A.C. Green 19 for the Suns.

Ken Norman led Milwaukee with 25 points.

Denver 115, Dallas 110--Dikembe Mutombo had 23 rebounds and nine blocks at Denver as the Nuggets handed the Mavericks their 12th consecutive loss.

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf scored 22 points and Reggie Williams added 20 for the Nuggets.

Jamal Mashburn scored 28 points and Jim Jackson had 24 for the Mavericks.