NBA ROUNDUP : The Rockets Glide With Drexler

For Houston, it was worth the wait.

With the status of newly acquired Clyde Drexler in doubt, the Rockets trailed the Charlotte Hornets by one point at halftime Thursday night at Charlotte, N.C.

Drexler, traded from Portland to Houston Tuesday for Otis Thorpe, was ready at the start but could not play until the start of the third quarter because Thorpe hadn’t yet passed his physical in Portland. The good news came during halftime.

With Drexler playing the second half and Hakeem Olajuwon finishing with 29 points and 14 rebounds, the Rockets pulled away to a 105-89 victory.

“We were hugging, and jumping up and down at halftime and couldn’t wait for the start of the second half,” Drexler said.

Drexler missed his first two shots before sinking a three-pointer at the 8:37 mark. Already energized, the Rockets made 17 of 26 shots in the period for 41 points and a commanding 85-64 lead as Charlotte made only six of 21 shots.

Drexler, who sat out the last six minutes of the game, finished with eight points, five rebounds, two assists and two turnovers.

Larry Johnson had 18 points for Charlotte.

Utah 120, San Antonio 113--Karl Malone scored 34 points and the Jazz held off the Spurs with 10 of 12 free-throw shooting in the final 1:01 at Salt Lake City to win for only the second time in six games.

New York 96, Miami 87--Patrick Ewing scored 13 of his 22 points in a decisive 28-11 second quarter, and Anthony Mason added 22 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Knicks past the Heat at Miami.

Cleveland 106, Milwaukee 85--Chris Mills scored 23 points as the Cavaliers used a 45-17 run over the second and third periods to rout the Bucks at Milwaukee.

New Jersey 100, Denver 94--Kenny Anderson had 20 points and 15 assists as the Nets held off the Nuggets at East Rutherford, N.J.

NBA Notes

New York Knick guard John Starks partially dislocated his left shoulder in Thursday’s victory at Miami. X-rays were negative, but Starks is listed as doubtful for tonight’s rematch against Miami at New York. . . . Phoenix Sun guard Danny Ainge, who suffered a strained knee in the incident, was suspended for one game and fined $7,500 for slapping Portland center Chris Dudley in Wednesday night’s game. Ainge’s injury is not considered serious.