Nuggets Remain in Hunt

Jalen Rose thinks he should be the Denver Nuggets’ point guard regardless of whether Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf returns to the team. Sunday night at Denver, he made a convincing argument.

Rose and LaPhonso Ellis made key baskets down the stretch, rallying Denver to a 111-105 victory over the Houston Rockets and keeping the Nuggets’ flickering playoff hopes alive.

With seven games left, the Nuggets trail Sacramento by 2 1/2 games in the race for the eighth and last playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The Nuggets outscored the Rockets, 11-3, over the final 1:14, with Rose and Ellis accounting for eight of those points.

Rose gave Denver the lead for good, 103-102, on a three-point play with 1:14 to go. Ellis made a short hook shot with 41 seconds left, Rose followed with a free throw and Ellis made two free throws, making the score 108-102 with 27 seconds to go.

Rose has started the last 17 games in place of Abdul-Rauf, who has had an assortment of injuries as well as being suspended one game for refusing to stand for the national anthem.

Abdul-Rauf, Denver’s leading scorer, was eligible to be activated off the injured list Sunday night, but his ankles remained sore. He was not at the game because of a stomach virus.

Utah 107, Sacramento 92--Karl Malone had 35 points at Sacramento as the Jazz broke a season-high four-game losing streak.

The loss cut the Kings’ margin over the idle Golden State Warriors to 1 1/2 games in the battle for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Denver is 2 1/2 games back.

Mitch Richmond had 27 points and Brian Grant had 17 for Sacramento.

Malone scored his 27th point on a free throw late in the third quarter, passing Adrian Dantley to move into 11th place on the career scoring list.

Phoenix 112, Vancouver 92--Kevin Johnson scored 26 points and Wesley Person made six three-point baskets at Vancouver as the Suns broke their four-game road losing streak.

The Suns swept the four-game season series. Wayman Tisdale added 20 points and Charles Barkley had 13 points and 15 rebounds in 28 minutes.

The loss was the 31st in 32 games for Vancouver.

Vancouver got 13 points from Bryant Reeves and Chris King.

Boston 98, Detroit 97--Todd Day scored 11 of his 16 points during a 19-5 fourth-quarter run that put the Celtics in the lead for good at Boston.

Pervis Ellison scored a season-high 18 points for Boston and pulled down 12 rebounds for the Celtics, who were eliminated from playoff contention with Charlotte’s victory on Saturday night.

Allan Houston scored 26 points--including two three-point baskets after the game was essentially out of reach--to lead the Pistons, who missed a chance to clinch their first winning season since 1991-92.