NBA ROUNDUP : Mashburn’s 37 Points Add to Problems in Charlotte

With illness, injuries and Mike Gminski en route to new employment, the Hornets were nine-strong for their game against the Dallas Mavericks at Charlotte.

Among the missing were Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning.

Make that nine-weak.

Charlotte lost for the 12th time in its last 13 games, 115-110, to Dallas, which shot 64% in winning its second in a row.

Rookie Jamal Mashburn scored 37 points to lead six Mavericks in double figures.

“When a team shoots 64%, it’s difficult to win,” Hornet Coach Allan Bristow said. “Our presence inside is not what we want it to be. We’ve got to play better defense. Right now we’re struggling.”

The addition of Frank Brickowski, acquired in the Gminski deal that was a trade of 34-year-old players, is expected to help.

Houston 93, New York 73--Hakeem Olajuwon had 29 points and 20 rebounds, and made four consecutive baskets in a fourth-quarter run that carried the Rockets, who held the Knicks to 29 points in the second half, at home.

Phoenix 120, Minnesota 101--The Suns won for the fifth time in their last six games and remained unbeaten in 19 games against the Timberwolves behind 26 points from Cedric Ceballos at Minneapolis.