Rockets Bully Their Way Past SuperSonics

Kenny Thomas isn’t sure about his new nickname, but he’s glad to get the attention.

Thomas scored 16 points, including six in the final 3:42, helping the Houston Rockets to a 101-98 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics on Tuesday at Houston.

Two of Thomas’ final three baskets came by driving the lane, a muscle play for which he is starting to become known. Coach Rudy Tomjanovich calls Thomas his “Raging Bull.”

“It’s always something,” Thomas said when asked about the nickname. “I’ll take it, I guess, if he’s going to give me more time late in the game.”

Rocket guard Cuttino Mobley, who scored 38 points, definitely is a Thomas fan.

“Kenny’s a clutch player,” Mobley said. “He doesn’t get recognized a lot, but we love and respect him. He does everything for us.”

The SuperSonics certainly recognized him when Thomas scored four points and got two rebounds in a 13-0 run that turned the game around in the fourth quarter.

San Antonio 98, Memphis 84--The Spurs won their 18th consecutive game over the Grizzlies as Tim Duncan scored 23 points at San Antonio.

San Antonio, which won its seventh in a row, had five players in double figures. Duncan had 13 rebounds.

Miami 90, Phoenix 78--Reserve Jim Jackson scored 23 points at Miami to lead a balanced offense and the Heat continued its pursuit of a playoff spot.

Jackson, playing extra minutes because of an ankle injury to Kendall Gill, helped spark the Heat to its eighth victory in the last 10 games. Miami, which was one game out of the final playoff spot in the East before the game, is 21-7 since Jan. 14.

Philadelphia 104, New York 96--Inspired by the ejection of Dikembe Mutombo, the 76ers rallied from a 20-point deficit in the third quarter at New York and won their fourth consecutive.

Allen Iverson scored 35 points and Eric Snow had 23, and Philadelphia overcame the loss of its best defender and rebounder after he was called for two flagrant fouls.

Indiana 115, Golden State 101--Austin Croshere scored 19 points and Jonathan Bender had 17 at Indianapolis, where the Pacers had seven players in double figures.

The Pacers held the Warriors scoreless for more than five minutes in the fourth quarter.

Milwaukee 110, Chicago 81--Michael Redd scored 21 points and the Bucks did not give up a field goal over a span of 9:40 in the second half at Milwaukee.

New Jersey 86, Toronto 84--Kenyon Martin scored on a rebound with less than a second to play at East Rutherford, N.J., and the Nets ended a season-high four-game losing streak.

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The United States added center Raef LaFrentz of the Dallas Mavericks, along with guard Andre Miller of the Cleveland Cavaliers and forward Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics, to the squad that will compete in the World Championships at Indianapolis this summer.... Toronto Raptor assistant Stan Albeck was discharged from a rehabilitation program, less than three months after he had a stroke in the locker room before a game.... Dee Brown came out of retirement, leaving the Orlando Magic’s front office and signing a 10-day contract with the team. The Magic hope the 33-year-old guard can plug a hole on the perimeter created by Mike Miller’s injury.