Rockets Have Right Touch

A day after losing on a three-point shot at the buzzer, the Houston Rockets decided to make the long-range shot their specialty Monday.

Sam Mack led a three-point shooting show that kept the Rockets from blowing a big lead for the second game in a row as they defeated the Seattle SuperSonics, 120-113, at Houston.

Mack was seven for 11 from three-point range and finished with 21 points. Houston was 13 for 27 on three-point attempts.

“Dream [Hakeem Olajuwon] was telling me before the game that I needed to take my shots,” Mack said. “It was a big confidence booster for me to hit them. The last couple of weeks I’ve been shooting the ball well. When I square up, I know I’m one of the best shooters in the league.”

The Rockets, who blew a 23-point lead Sunday at San Antonio before Mario Elle’s game-winning basket, built an early 16-point advantage. Seattle closed to 105-100, but the Rockets held on.

Indiana 120, Boston 104--Reggie Miller scored 23 points, Chris Mullin added 21 and Pacer Coach Larry Bird raised his record to 7-0 against his former team with a victory at Boston. Indiana has won nine consecutive games against the Celtics.

Charlotte 120, New Jersey 113--The Hornets extended their winning streak to eight games and continued their incredible turnaround, moving within a half-game of a playoff spot with a victory on the road. David Wesley had a three-point play and a three-point basket to ignite a late run as the Hornets reached .500 for the first time this season.

Miami 94, Cleveland 87--Jamal Mashburn scored 23 points, Dan Majerle had a season-high 22 and Alonzo Mourning tied his team record with nine blocked shots to lead the Heat over the Cavaliers at Cleveland. The Heat are tied in the loss column with first-place Orlando in the Atlantic Division.

Philadelphia 72, New York 67--Allen Houston was 0 of 4 with no points in the second half, missing a wild three-point attempt that would have tied the score in the last 10 seconds as the 76ers won at Philadelphia, handing the Knicks their fourth loss in a row.

Toronto 90, Orlando 72--Tracy McGrady had 16 points and 11 rebounds and the Raptors ended a four-game home losing streak and climbed back to .500 with a victory over the Magic.

Around the League

Tony Battie of the Boston Celtics was arrested at gunpoint last weekend for allegedly assaulting a police officer who asked him to move his car outside a nightclub at Boston. Police said that around 2:20 a.m. Saturday Battie refused to move his car, refused a request for proper identification and tried to drive off when the officer attempted to arrest him. The officer’s arm was caught in the driver’s window and the officer was forced to pull out his service revolver before Battie stopped the car. . . . Keith Askins of the Miami Heat was fined $5,000 and suspended for one game by the NBA for elbowing Indiana’s Antonio Davis last weekend. The league also fined Vancouver’s Cherokee Parks $5,000 for making an obscene gesture during the Grizzlies’ loss at Minnesota last Friday night. . . . Despite concern that his career might be in jeopardy because of a badly broken right leg and knee injury, New Jersey Net center Jayson Williams pledged he would play next season. The injury happened April 1 against Atlanta when Williams collided with teammate Stephon Marbury.