Olajuwon Has Precautionary Tests Because of Heart Problem

Hakeem Olajuwon was hospitalized because of an abnormal heart rhythm suffered at halftime, but Charles Barkley had 22 points and 17 rebounds as the Rockets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 122-93, Tuesday night at Houston.

Olajuwon had 10 points and five rebounds as the Rockets took a 71-48 halftime lead. He then walked from The Summit and was taken to Methodist Hospital for precautionary tests.

A team statement said Olajuwon’s condition was not believed to be serious. He experienced an irregular heartbeat during the 1991-92 season, but it returned to normal after medication.

Rocket Coach Rudy Tomjanovich pulled his starters with 9:20 left in the game. Clyde Drexler scored 18 points for the Rockets. Kevin Garnett tied a season-high with 20 points to lead the Timberwolves.

“We were concerned about Hakeem’s situation,” Tomjanovich said. “It was a continuation of what happened a couple of years ago. He’s day-to-day. We’re hoping for the best. You can’t be too careful when it involves the heart of an athlete.”

Milwaukee 100, Dallas 97--Johnny Newman scored 27 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, and Armon Gilliam had 27 points and 13 rebounds as the Bucks held off the Mavericks at Milwaukee.

Gilliam made his second consecutive start in place of Vin Baker, the Bucks’ leading scorer who sat out the game because of a hip injury. Jason Kidd had season-highs in points (25) and rebounds (13) and eight assists for the Mavericks, who were without Chris Gatling, their second-leading scorer who sprained his right knee in practice Monday.

New York 92, Orlando 88--The battle for early supremacy in the Atlantic Division was a mismatch until the Knicks nearly collapsed at Orlando, Fla.

The Knicks began the game with an 18-2 run and led by 25 before having to hold off the injury-riddled Magic behind a 24-point performance by Patrick Ewing. Ewing became the 23rd player in NBA history to score 20,000 points when he hit a layup midway through the second quarter. He finished eight of 15 from the field, had 16 rebounds and blocked seven shots.

John Starks had 15 points and Charles Oakley contributed 12 points and 14 rebounds.

Miami 104, Denver 86--Alonzo Mourning scored 23 points to lead six Heat players in double figures at Denver. The Heat, who never trailed after the first six minutes of the game, shot 54% from the field and went nine for 14 from three-point range to end a three-game losing streak.

Antonio McDyess scored 27 points for the Nuggets, who committed 24 turnovers and are 1-4 at home.

Seattle 106, Toronto 98--SuperSonic Coach George Karl figured his team played as well for 24 minutes as it has all season. But the SuperSonics watched a 25-point halftime lead dwindle to four points with 3:50 remaining before beating the host Raptors for their eighth consecutive victory.

Shawn Kemp, who left the game late in the fourth quarter because of a cut above his right eye that required three stitches, had things pretty much his way in the first half, scoring 20 of his team-high 26 points.

But Doug Christie, who picked up the slack with starting point guard Damon Stoudamire out because of an injured foot, led a second-half comeback with 22 of his game-high 31 points, including a club-record 20 in the third quarter.

Cleveland 73, Atlanta 63--Terrell Brandon scored 18 points and the Cavaliers found a way to slow Mookie Blaylock and the visiting Hawks.

The second-half total of 60 points was two more than the NBA record for fewest points in a half. That dubious mark was set by Fort Wayne and Syracuse in 1955.

Portland 92, Sacramento 90--Arvydas Sabonis sent the game into overtime and then scored the winning points on a short hook shot with 20 seconds remaining to lead the Trail Blazers at Portland.

Sabonis’ clutch shots and a pair of crucial misses by Mitch Richmond overshadowed a season-high 37-point performance by King guard Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.

Sabonis sent the game into overtime tied, 85-85, with an inside basket with 2.4 seconds left.