NBA ROUNDUP : Olajuwon Leads Rockets to Another Close Win

The Houston Rockets, who are 10-0 in games decided by four points or less, got 33 points from Hakeem Olajuwon and held off a late charge by the Denver Nuggets for a 98-97 victory Tuesday night at Houston.

Denver, which had its three-game winning streak ended, had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer, but Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf could only manage a two-pointer.

Houston got its first victory over the Nuggets in three tries this season, as Olajuwon turned in an outstanding performance against Denver’s Dikembe Mutombo, who had 15 points.

Golden State 117, Milwaukee 113--He may have been anonymous everywhere else before becoming an All-Star this season, but basketball fans around Milwaukee have long known about Latrell Sprewell. The Milwaukee native scored 34 points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, as the Warriors edged the Bucks at Milwaukee for their sixth straight victory.

Sprewell sank three key free throws and Chris Mullin two in the final 22 seconds as the Warriors survived a charge by the Bucks, who fell for the 21st time in 27 home games.

Mullin finished with a season-high 28 points.

Todd Day scored 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, both season highs, for the Bucks.

Seattle 93, New York 82--The SuperSonics held the Knicks to an NBA season-low 28.7% shooting at New York, but still had to hold off a late Knick rally to win.

Shawn Kemp had 21 points and 17 rebounds and Sam Perkins 17 points for the SuperSonics. John Starks led the Knicks with 30 points. while Patrick Ewing scored 22 on six-for-29 shooting. Charles Oakley grabbed 18 rebounds.

New York made 29 of 101 shots for the game, eclipsing the NBA’s previous low of 31.2% by the Lakers against Denver on Nov. 12.

Miami 123, New Jersey 97--Glen Rice sank eight of his first 10 shots and the Heat shot nearly 64% in the first half to win at East Rutherford, N.J., and end the Nets’ season-high five-game winning streak.

Cleveland 114, Minnesota 81--Christian Laettner was back from his one-game suspension, but it made little difference as the Cavaliers handed the Timberwolves their worst loss of the season. Larry Nance scored eight of his 22 points during a 16-2 first-quarter run to lead Cavaliers at Richfield, Ohio.

Indiana 107, Dallas 101--Rik Smits flirted with his first triple-double, scoring 27 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing off a career-high eight assists to lead the Pacers at Indianapolis. Smits made 11 of 17 shots and five of six free throws and also blocked three shots.

Sacramento 95, Boston 93--Mitch Richmond scored 23 points, including a key jumper with 50 seconds left at Sacramento, as the Kings rallied to hand the Celtics their ninth consecutive loss.

Richmond missed 13 of 19 shots before sinking the clutch 18-footer.