NBA PLAYOFFS : Stockton’s Shot Beats Rockets

Hakeem Olajuwon set out as though he was going to bring Houston its second NBA championship in a row by himself, but the Jazz played two against one in beating the Rockets, 102-100, on Thursday in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series.

John Stockton’s driving layup with 2.4 seconds to play gave Utah the victory and provided his 27th and 28th points. He also had 10 assists.

Karl Malone had 25 points for the Jazz.

That was enough to overcome Olajuwon’s one-man show in which he hit 20 of 30 shots and finished with 45 points.

“Everybody made a contribution. It’s not just a two-man team,” Malone said. “All the guys won’t show up in the stats, but they did a good job too.”

The Rockets tied the score, 100-100--the eighth time the scored was tied in the fourth quarter--on a 16-foot shot by Kenny Smith with 16 seconds to go.

Stockton then came up with the deciding play, a drive from the head of the key that finished with him surrounded by four Rockets.

The victory was Utah’s third in eight days over Houston.

New York 103, Cleveland 79--The Knicks got 21 points from Patrick Ewing and used runs of 15-0 and 18-2 in the second and third quarters to put away the NBA’s stingiest defensive team in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoff at New York.

Game 2 is Saturday.

The Knicks never trailed and their starters outscored Cleveland’s, 77-29.

Indiana 90, Atlanta 82--Reggie Miller scored 24 points and Derrick McKey had 21 to lead the Pacers at Indianapolis, where they are enjoying a home-court advantage for the first time since joining the NBA in 1976.

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Tonight’s Games

All are the first in five-game series:

Western Conference

* Denver at San Antonio

* Portland at Phoenix

Eastern Conference

* Boston at Orlando

* Chicago at Charlotte

TV: TBS, TNT