Rockets Keep Rolling Even Minus Barkley

With Charles Barkley out because of a sprained right ankle, Hakeem Olajuwon had 26 points and 10 rebounds Sunday night as the Houston Rockets improved their NBA-best record with a 99-89 victory over the Trail Blazers at Portland.

The Rockets (21-2), coming off an emotional 109-100 victory over the SuperSonics in Seattle Saturday night, are 11-1 on the road.

Olajuwon sank a soaring hook shot over Rasheed Wallace and was fouled and made the free throw for a three-point play with 1:59 remaining to put Houston ahead, 87-80.

Olajuwon fouled out with 1:43 to play, and Wallace, only three for eight from the foul line, made one of two free throws to make it 87-81.

Clyde Drexler, who added 22 points and seven assists, sealed the victory with a 15-foot jumper from the baseline that put the Rockets ahead, 89-81, with 1:19 to play.

Kevin Willis, starting in place of Barkley, had a season-high 13 rebounds despite foul trouble. Mario Elie scored 17 for Houston.

Barkley missed a game for the first time since he sat out the season opener because of a fight with Anthony Mason in an exhibition game.

Kenny Anderson had 26 points and 10 assists for Portland on 10-for-24 shooting as the Blazers shot 38% for the game. Arvydas Sabonis scored 18 and Wallace 15 for Portland.

Washington 110, Golden State 102--Rod Strickland scored 22 points and helped Washington pull away in the third quarter, and Chris Webber recorded a triple-double at San Jose.

Latrell Sprewell scored a career-high 43 points for the Warriors, who lost their third in a row.

Strickland had 12 points in the third period, during which the Bullets outscored the Warriors, 36-19. Strickland also had 15 assists. Juwan Howard scored 22 points in Washington’s third straight victory.

Webber had 19 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. He also had nine turnovers.

The Warriors closed within 76-75 with 5:16 left in the third quarter when Joe Smith connected on a 16-foot jumper, but Washington went on a 20-4 run to end the period. Strickland scored eight points during the burst.

Webber closed the third quarter with a three-point shot at the buzzer, then stared into the crowd, which booed the former Warrior each time he touched the ball.

Detroit 99, Boston 89--Grant Hill had 25 points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Hill also had eight assists. Otis Thorpe added 16 points and Joe Dumars had 15.

David Wesley led the Celtics with 25.

Phoenix 103, Vancouver 84--Robert Horry scored 19 points at Phoenix as the Suns won for the sixth time in seven games.

The Suns are 7-7 since Danny Ainge took over as coach from Cotton Fitzsimmons on Nov. 15.