Olajuwon Becomes Block King; Bulls Push Victory Mark to 72

L.A. Times Archives

April 22, 1996 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

Hakeem Olajuwon became the NBA’s biggest shot blocker and Sam Mack came up with the big shots Sunday as the Houston Rockets finished the regular season with a 118-110 victory over the Phoenix Suns at Houston.

Olajuwon’s third block of the game at the 5:56 mark of the third period, gave him 3,190 for his 12-year career--one more than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had in his 19 seasons.

“A shot blocker is something special,” Olajuwon said. “I am very honored and blessed for this accomplishment. It was a great celebration and one of the special moments of my career.”

Mack, who started in place of injured Clyde Drexler, collected 26 points and led a Houston three-point barrage.

Mack was six for 11 from behind the arc and Houston went 16 for 30 from long range. The Rockets tied a club record for three-point baskets and finished two shy of the NBA mark set earlier this year by Dallas.

Chicago 103, Washington 93--The Bulls wrapped up the most successful regular season in NBA history with their 72nd victory, getting 26 points from Michael Jordan at Landover, Md.

Jordan sat out the second and fourth quarters as Coach Phil Jackson dipped deep into his bench to keep his regulars rested for the playoffs. The Bulls nevertheless won their seventh consecutive road game to finish 72-10 overall--the best record in the history of the league.

The Bullets’ Ledell Eackles and Chicago’s James Edwards were ejected for fighting, although neither player landed a particularly damaging blow during the scuffle in front of the Washington bench.

Sacramento 107, Golden State 100--Mitch Richmond scored 20 points as the Kings prepared for their first playoff appearance in a decade by defeating the Warriors at Sacramento.

The Kings went on a 16-0 run in the fourth quarter, holding the Warriors scoreless for 5:33, to turn a nine-point deficit into a comfortable lead.

Atlanta 104, Miami 92--Stacy Augmon scored 23 points and Steve Smith 22 as the Hawks won at Miami and clinched the sixth playoff spot in the East.

Smith, traded by the Heat two seasons ago, sparked a 20-5 third-quarter run as the Hawks expanded a four-point halftime lead to a 69-50. Smith scored 11 points in the third quarter while the Heat went scoreless for 4:23 and scored only 12 points on five-for-24 shooting.

Atlanta will face third-seeded Indiana in the best-of-five first round beginning Thursday night.

Detroit 108, Milwaukee 92--Otis Thorpe and Joe Dumars scored 19 points each to lead the Pistons at Detroit.

The Pistons led, 62-48, at the half, and found out early in the third quarter that Atlanta had clinched the sixth playoff spot. The second half then started to look like a contest between two squads with nothing to play for.

The Pistons finished 46-36, an 18-game improvement over last season, and will face Orlando in the first round of the playoffs.

Indiana 89, Cleveland 88--Travis Best’s three-point shot with 8.8 seconds to play gave the Pacers the victory at Indianapolis.

Cleveland had one last chance to win, but Bob Sura, guarded by Best, missed a short jumper and time expired as the players battled for a rebound.

Dallas 103, San Antonio 98--Jim Jackson scored 35 points and Jason Kidd had his ninth triple-double to lead the Mavericks at San Antonio.

Kidd had 21 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds and Lucious Harris added 15 points and Cherokee Parks 11.

Jackson scored 14 of his points in the fourth quarter as Dallas was able to pull away. With the score tied, 95-95, with 2:52 to play, Jackson scored five consecutive points to give Dallas a 100-95 lead with less than a minute left.

Denver 99, Seattle 88--Shawn Kemp was ejected for throwing a punch and the SuperSonics ended the regular season on a losing note at Denver.

Dale Ellis scored 21 points, Antonio McDyess had 20 points and 13 rebounds and LaPhonso Ellis added 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Nuggets.

Seattle may be without Kemp for at least one playoff game. He was ejected after exchanging punches with Denver’s Tom Hammonds.

Orlando 103, Charlotte 100--The Magic capped its most successful regular season by rallying from a 23-point deficit and getting a late surge from Anfernee Hardaway for the victory at Charlotte, N.C.

Hardaway scored 12 of his 19 points in the final 4:33 and added 13 assists as Orlando finished the regular season with its second consecutive Atlantic Division title and 60 victories.

New York 122, Boston 111--Patrick Ewing had 28 points and 13 rebounds as the Knicks clinched the fifth seed in the East with the victory at Boston.

The victory snapped a two-game losing streak that ruined New York’s chance for home-court advantage. The Knicks finished 47-35--their lowest victory total in five years--and will play the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs.

Philadelphia 109, Toronto 105--Clarence Weatherspoon scored a career-high 35 points as the 76ers got the victory at Toronto.

Weatherspoon, who also grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds, scored five of Philadelphia’s 10 points in overtime to help the 76ers win the season series, 3-1.

Rex Walters, who had 23 points and 12 assists, made a three-point shot for a 104-101 lead in overtime. The 76ers never trailed again.

NBA Notes

Boston coach and general manager M.L. Carr said he will remain at both jobs for another year.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

First-Round Playoff Series

EASTERN CONFERENCE

* Chicago vs. Miami

(Starts Friday at Chicago)

* Orlando vs. Detroit

(Starts Friday at Orlando)

* Indiana vs. Atlanta

(Starts Thursday at Indiana)