Rookie Helps Keep the Hawks in Perfect Shape

The unbeaten Atlanta Hawks had a new hero but the same result.

Rookie Ed Gray scored seven points in overtime and the Hawks shut out the Washington Bullets in the extra period for a 98-89 victory Tuesday night at Atlanta.

Gray had a career-best 14 points as the Hawks rallied in the final quarter, then dominated the overtime to improve to 11-0, the best record in the NBA. Christian Laettner and Mookie Blaylock scored 24 points apiece for the Hawks.

“I’m a rookie, but I try not to think like one,” said Gray, pressed into second-half duty with team scoring leader Steve Smith was sidelined at halftime because of an aching back.

The Hawks rallied after trailing by 11 points with 2:20 left in the third quarter.

Rod Strickland led the Wizards with 24 points.

Minnesota 108, Phoenix 90--Stephon Marbury scored 11 of his 23 points in the final 5:13 as the Timberwolves used a late surge to roll at Phoenix.

Kevin Garnett led Minnesota with 26 points and Tom Gugliotta added 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. But it was Marbury who ended Phoenix’s final comeback bid by spearheading a 15-0 run.

Kevin Johnson had 27 points to lead the Suns.

Houston 95, New York 84--Hakeem Olajuwon found his shooting touch with 24 points and Matt Maloney finished one shy of his career-high with 23 as the Rockets stopped the Knicks at Houston.

Houston snapped its four-game losing streak and ended New York’s three-game victory streak.

John Starks led the Knicks with 29 points.

Sacramento 102, Dallas 95--A.C. Green had 20 points and 13 rebounds and tied the NBA record by playing in his 906th consecutive game, but his Mavericks lost their seventh in a row as Corliss Williamson scored 20 points in the King victory at Sacramento.

Milwaukee 97, Detroit 79--In a game that featured the second-lowest scoring first half in NBA history, Ray Allen and Terrell Brandon scored 21 points apiece as the Bucks won at Milwaukee.

Milwaukee led, 31-29, at halftime, and the combined 60 points were only two more than the NBA record of 58 scored by Syracuse and Fort Wayne on Jan. 25, 1955.

Boston 122, Toronto 109--Dee Brown went four for four on three-point shots in the first half and Walter McCarty scored 18 points at Boston as the Celtics cruised to their fourth consecutive victory.

Vancouver 100, Denver 87--Blue Edwards scored 27 points as the Grizzlies won their first road game of the season. It was the fifth victory for the Grizzlies, who didn’t win that many last season until Dec. 17.