NBA ROUNDUP : Grizzlies Make It Two Wins in Row

Vancouver became the first NBA expansion team since 1980 to open with two victories as the Grizzlies defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 100-98, in overtime Sunday night behind reserve Byron Scott’s 18 points.

Two nights after beating Portland, 92-80, on the road, the Grizzlies made history in their home opener before a sellout crowd of 19,193 at GM Place.

Greg Anthony scored 17 points and Blue Edwards had 16 for Vancouver.

Christian Laettner scored 26 points on 10-of-17 shooting for the Timberwolves.

Since 1980, seven expansion teams have been added to the NBA, including Minnesota.

Houston 106, Phoenix 104--Mario Elie, whose three-point shot in the final seconds knocked the Suns out of the second round of the playoffs 5 1/2 months ago, brought the Rockets from behind in the fourth quarter as they beat the Suns in Phoenix.

Elie tied the game for the final time at 97-97 when he scored after Charles Barkley’s block of a Chucky Brown shot with 4:05 left, made a three-pointer 36 seconds later and assisted on Sam Cassell’s breakaway basket with 3:09 to go, putting Houston (2-0) ahead, 102-97.

Hakeem Olajuwon had 24 points and 12 rebounds for the defending NBA champions and Clyde Drexler scored 21.

Barkley had 23 points and 17 rebounds, and Wesley Person scored 22 for the Suns (0-2).

Portland 109, Utah 105--Clifford Robinson scored 25 points, going four for six from three-point range, as the Trail Blazers beat the Jazz in Portland.

Rod Strickland scored 18 points for Portland and Arvydas Sabonis, the 7-foot-3 Lithuanian playing in his second NBA game, had 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Karl Malone scored 26 for Utah (1-1).