Trail Blazers Put Clamps on Rockets

Damon Stoudamire scored 21 points for Portland, and the Houston Rockets tied a franchise-record low by shooting only 29.5% in the Trail Blazers’ 81-66 victory Tuesday night at Houston.

The point total was a season-low for Houston, which made only three of 24 shots in the third quarter.

Bonzi Wells had 17 points for Portland and Arvydas Sabonis came off the bench to score 11 points. James Posey led the Rockets with 15 points, all in the first half.

Houston was leading 38-32 with 5:12 left in the second quarter when their shooting woes began.

Steve Francis had 12 points for Houston, and Cuttino Mobley scored eight. They were a combined three for 32 from the field. Yao Ming had six points and 12 rebounds. He made one of 13 shots.

Golden State 128, Utah 102 -- Gilbert Arenas scored 34 points, making a career-high six three-point baskets to lead the Warriors at Oakland. Antawn Jamison had 16 points and Troy Murphy had 13 points and 12 rebounds as Golden State shot 52.5%.

Phoenix 98, Denver 78 -- Shawn Marion had 27 points and 10 rebounds at Denver as the Suns increased their lead in the race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Reserve Joe Johnson 23 points, and the Suns (41-36) now lead by 1 1/2 games over the Houston Rockets (40-38) in the playoff berth chase.

Sacramento 107, Seattle 85 -- Chris Webber had 20 points and seven assists, and Peja Stojakovic scored 18 points at Sacramento as the Kings stayed in the hunt for the Western Conference’s top seeding. Mike Bibby scored 15 points as the Kings won their fifth in a row and improved to an NBA-best 33-6 at home.

Chicago 115, Indiana 103 -- Jamal Crawford scored 14 of his career-high 33 points in the last four minutes of the fourth quarter at Chicago and the Bulls stunned the Pacers. It was only the Bulls’ third victory in their last 19 games against Indiana.

Washington 100, Cleveland 91 -- Michael Jordan, who tormented the Cavaliers perhaps more than any other team during his career, scored 26 points at Cleveland and the Wizards kept their playoff hopes alive. Jerry Stackhouse had 18 points as the Wizards moved within 1 1/2 games of idle Milwaukee for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Philadelphia 91, Detroit 74 -- Allen Iverson, playing despite left knee bursitis, had 37 points and eight assists to lead the 76ers at Philadelphia. Kenny Thomas had 16 points and 15 rebounds for Philadelphia, which won for the first time in three games and moved within two games of Atlantic Division-leading New Jersey.

New York 99, Atlanta 95 -- Allan Houston scored 29 points at New York and the Knicks kept their slim playoff hopes alive. The Knicks led by as many as 16 points, but had to hold off Atlanta’s late charge to stay in the playoff berth hunt. New York must win its next four games and Milwaukee must lose its final five for the Knicks to qualify.

Miami 89, Toronto 83 -- Brian Grant scored 16 points and had 10 rebounds, and the Raptors went scoreless over the final 2:54 in the Heat’s victory at Toronto.