Jazz Routs Rockets for Record Victory

On Friday night, the Utah Jazz tied a franchise record for consecutive victories with 15 and matched a club mark for most victories in a season with 60.

And, in its 104-83 rout of the Houston Rockets at Salt Lake City, the Jazz might also have gotten a taste of a not-to-distant playoff opponent.

“Houston tried to play us physical, and we were not backing down,” said Jazz forward Bryon Russell, who scored 19 points, including two three-point baskets, and had four steals.

The game featured 51 fouls, 68 free throws, a flagrant foul, four technical fouls and an ejection.

Karl Malone had 28 points and 13 rebounds and Jeff Hornacek scored 14 points for the Jazz, which has won 20 of 21 games.

Hakeem Olajuwon scored 19 points for Houston, which shot only 30%. Charles Barkley was three of 11 for 10 points and Clyde Drexler made only only two of 15 shots and was scoreless in the second half.

“We got our butt kicked,” said Barkley, who was ejected with his second technical foul, from the bench, with 1:50 to play. He was also responsible for the flagrant foul. “It seemed like it was five on 10, it was so bad. But give them credit--they won.”

Washington 109, New Jersey 90--Chris Webber made his first nine field goal attempts and scored 19 points as the Bullets improved their playoff chances by defeating the Nets at Landover, Md.

The Bullets pulled away at the outset of the third quarter, expanding a 55-44 halftime lead to 69-46 with a 12-0 run that started with a jumper off the glass by Juwan Howard.

Boston 103, Cleveland 101--The Celtics broke a 10-game losing streak and hurt the Cavaliers’ playoff chances as David Wesley made a layup and three free throws in the last 34 seconds for the overtime victory at Boston.

The Cavaliers had a last chance to win, but Terrell Brandon slipped and then hurried a three-point shot that missed at the buzzer.

Charlotte 93, Detroit 85--Anthony Mason had 23 points and 11 rebounds and Ricky Pierce added 20 points to lead the Hornets to the victory at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Charlotte outrebounded Detroit, 47-30, to help overcome Grant Hill’s 11th triple-double of the year. Hill finished with 20 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists, while Joe Dumars scored 21 points.

Atlanta 104, Indiana 92--The Hawks shot 55%--making 11 of 21 three-point shots--and Dikembe Mutombo controlled things inside by scoring 20 points in the Hawks’ victory at Indianapolis.

Mutombo was one of four Atlanta starters to finish with at least 20 points. Steve Smith and Mookie Blaylock each had 23 and Christian Laettner had 20 points and nine rebounds.

Milwaukee 126, Philadelphia 118--Allen Iverson scored 44 points, reaching 40 for the third consecutive game to tie Wilt Chamberlain’s NBA rookie record, but the Bucks got 40 points from Glenn Robinson and won at Milwaukee.

Jerry Stackhouse scored to tie it, 110-110, with 3:35 left, but Sherman Douglas, who had 16 points, made consecutive baskets to put the Bucks up by four with 2:52 remaining. Robinson made a three-point basket with a minute left for a 120-114 lead and the Bucks hung on for the victory.

Sacramento 97, Golden State 87--Mitch Richmond scored 24 points and Corliss Williamson had 22 and a career-high 13 rebounds as the Kings kept their slim playoff hopes alive with the victory at Sacramento.

Bobby Hurley handed out 11 assists for the Kings, who moved within 2 1/2 games of the Clippers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Latrell Sprewell scored 24 points and Todd Fuller had his first career double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.