NBA ROUNDUP : Houston’s Defense Stops Seattle
The defense that kept the Houston Rockets atop the Midwest Division almost all season put them back in first place again.
The Rockets held Seattle to 29 points in the second half, including four points in the final 6:27, Thursday night at Houston as they overcame an early 14-point deficit to defeat the SuperSonics, 87-82.
The victory gave Houston a .002 percentage point lead over San Antonio in the Midwest Division. The loss for Seattle ended a six-game winning streak.
At one point, Seattle went 5:11 without a basket and was whistled for a pair of illegal defense violations. Houston used a late 8-0 run to take the lead for good.
Rookie Sam Cassell put Houston ahead, 83-80, with two free throws with 26 seconds to play, but Shawn Kemp’s basket with 17 seconds remaining pulled the SuperSonics to within one. Cassell was fouled again and converted to give the Rockets a three-point lead.
Golden State 100, Portland 97--Latrell Sprewell scored 22 points at Oakland to help the Warriors avenge their worst loss of the season. The Warriors lost, 137-108, at Portland on Monday.
The defeat snapped Portland’s four-game winning streak and was its second loss in the last 12 games.
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