NBA ROUNDUP : Rockets Get a Lift From Maxwell, 90-88

Vernon Maxwell scored 35 points, including a three-pointer with 27 seconds to play and a 20-footer at the buzzer, leading the Houston Rockets to a 90-88 victory over the Spurs at San Antonio on Tuesday night.

Maxwell’s shot came after the Rockets called a timeout with 3.1 seconds to play and the score tied for the 11th time in the second half.

“I just told him that we were going to get the ball in his hands,” Houston Coach Rudy Tomjanovich said of the winning shot. “I told him, ‘No play whatsoever, just go out and do it. Go get it.’ And he did.”

The Spurs were led by David Robinson’s 20 points and 13 rebounds.

Hakeem Olajuwon had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who at 22-1 are only one victory shy of tying the 1969-70 New York Knicks for the best record with one defeat in NBA history. They have won seven in a row.

Portland 100, Golden State 98--Rod Strickland made a layup with 0.2 seconds to play, capping the Trail Blazers’ rally from a 21-point deficit at Oakland.

Portland, playing without Clyde Drexler because of an ankle injury, took advantage of two-for-15 shooting by Golden State’s Chris Mullin, who finished with seven points in his third game since coming back from thumb surgery.

Portland’s Clifford Robinson led all scorers with 22 points, and Strickland had 16 points and 11 assists.

New Jersey 85, New York 81--Kenny Anderson scored eight of his 14 points in the final 1:33, helping the Nets win at East Rutherford, N.J.

Derrick Coleman had 29 points and 16 rebounds and combined with Anderson for the Nets’ final 11 points as they won their third in a row at home.

The Knicks’ Patrick Ewing had 23 points and 12 rebounds.

Cleveland 112, Utah 97--Brad Daugherty overcame the effects of an inner-ear disorder and scored 26 points as the Cavaliers won at Richfield, Ohio.

The Cavaliers won their second in a row, while the Jazz saw their four-game winning streak end.

Terrell Brandon and Mark Price each scored 18 points for Cleveland. Brandon had 14 assists and Price nine.

Jeff Malone scored 21 points and Tom Chambers added 19 for Utah.

Daugherty has vertigo, an inner-ear disturbance that can affect one’s balance.

Charlotte 108, Detroit 97--Dell Curry and Hersey Hawkins each scored 20 points at Auburn Hills, Mich., leading the Hornets to their first road victory in nine tries.

Lindsey Hunter led the Pistons with 20 points, and Olden Polynice added 16 points and 12 rebounds before suffering a knee injury in the fourth quarter. The extent of the injury was not immediately known.

Seattle 91, Indiana 88--Kendall Gill scored four of his 16 points in the final two minutes to lift the SuperSonics at Seattle.

Seattle improved to 12-0 at home and 20-2 overall. Dale Davis had 17 points and 12 rebounds and Antonio Davis added 14 points for the Pacers.

Denver 121, Phoenix 95--Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf scored 27 points and Reggie Williams added 21 at Denver as the Nuggets handed the Suns only their second loss in 11 games.