NBA ROUNDUP : Streaks End for Orlando and Utah

A pair of NBA streaks ended Thursday night when the Orlando Magic lost at home for the first time this season and the Utah Jazz lost on the road for the first time in 2 1/2 months.

At Orlando, Gary Payton scored 26 points and Detlef Schrempf had 22 to lead the Seattle SuperSonics to a 106-103 victory over the Magic, which had been 21-0 at home.

And at Houston, the Jazz lost its chance to match the NBA record of 16 consecutive road victories as Hakeem Olajuwon scored 41 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 121-101 victory.

“If we’re going to lose at home, at least we lost to a good basketball team in a good game,” Magic Coach Brian Hill said. “I can’t fault these guys. They played hard. They played their hearts out. And we still have the best home record in the NBA.”

Shaquille O’Neal had 39 points and 15 rebounds for the Magic, which played without forwards Horace Grant, who sat out because of a sore back, and Anthony Avent, who was sidelined because of an in-grown toenail.

Guard Nick Anderson was sidelined during the game after aggravating a wrist injury.

The Magic made only 20 of 32 free throws and only seven of 26 three-point shots.

Seattle made 17 of 22 free throws and nine of 17 three-pointers.

“There was no pressure from the streak. We kept fighting, but they hit a lot of shots,” O’Neal said. “We were undermanned, and they just won the game. We’ll be OK.”

Shawn Kemp scored 17 points, including a pair of free throws with 1:30 to play, for the SuperSonics, who won their eighth consecutive road game and swept the season series against the Magic.

Utah, which hadn’t lost on the road since Nov. 19 at Golden State, also had its 14-game overall winning streak ended. The 1971-72 Lakers set the record of 16 consecutive road victories from Nov. 6, 1971, to Jan. 7, 1972.

John Stockton, who had 16 assists in Wednesday’s 129-88 victory over Denver to surpass Magic Johnson’s record of 9,921, had only five assists against the Rockets.

“In perspective, it had to end,” Stockton said. “You have to look at it as one game, but no loss is a good loss. We sought to play well in every game, not just road games.”

The Rockets led after the third quarter, 75-71, before making seven three-point shots in the fourth.

“Yeah, it was contagious,” Mario Elie said. “When you get the wide-open shots we were getting out there, old ladies could hit the shots.”

Sacramento 88, Chicago 68--The Bulls were held to an NBA-record 24 points in the second half at Sacramento. The Kings’ Walt Williams scored 22 points and Chicago Coach Phil Jackson was ejected in the fourth quarter.

Detroit 85, Cleveland 83--Grant Hill scored 22 points to help the Pistons rally from an 11-point second-half deficit at Auburn Hills, Mich.