RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
HOUSTON (AP) -- He might be getting old and this could be his
last season. But Hakeem Olajuwon showed he could still play in the Houston Rockets' 94-89 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night.
The 37-year-old Olajuwon had a season-high 19 points, 10
rebounds and a season-high three blocked shots to help the Rockets
win their sixth straight home game.
"That's the Dream of old," coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "I've been watching the Nostalgia Channel on TV lately and seeing a lot of his old cat-like moves. For stretches, he's been doing that again."
Steve Francis scored a game-high 25 points and noticed the same
thing.
"Hakeem played great," Francis said. "I think today he showed
the people who say he's washed up that he can still play. And he
did it against the fastest team in the NBA."
Olajuwon, in his 16th NBA season, didn't think he did anything
special as he passed Buck Williams for 10th on the NBA's all-time
rebounding list with 13,020.
"I felt good in the preseason and this is just a carry-over of
that," Olajuwon said. "I have been developing more every game and
I think it's starting to show. My entire career, I have taken a
while to get my timing and get in the flow and that's just
happening again."
Olajuwon had two steals the final two minutes, including a
critical one with 4.3 seconds to play.
"He was great," Suns coach Scott Skiles said of Olajuwon. "It
looks like he's been better the last few games for them.
"I think he's rounding into better playing condition. He was a
big factor in the first half and made two critical defensive plays
down the stretch."
"He made some big shots for them," said Clifford Robinson, who
scored 23 to lead the Suns. "When we made our run, he got a big
block on Rodney (Rogers)."
Cuttino Mobley added 17 points, including eight in the fourth
quarter as the Rockets improved to 6-5, their first time with a
better-than-.500 record since May 5, 1999.
Shawn Marion added 20 points and 17 rebounds and Jason Kidd and Rodney Rogers each had 13 points. Rogers was ejected in the third
quarter after the teams nearly got involved in a brawl.
Olajuwon was active early, dropping in eight points and grabbing
five rebounds to help the Rockets move on top 14-10 midway through
the first period.
Houston went on an 8-0 run to increase its lead to 47-33 with
2:47 left in the first half. But a 7-0 run by Phoenix the rest of
the way left the Rockets leading 47-40 at intermission.
Led by four points from Robinson, the Suns closed to 49-48 with
9:25 left in the third. But Francis scored seven unanswered points
on a 3-pointer and two baskets to push the Rockets back on top
56-48.
Rogers scored the next six including, a 3 and a technical free
throw to close it to 58-56. Moments later, however, Rogers was
ejected for vehemently arguing a flagrant foul call against him
with 2:32 left in the third. Rogers' foul against Olajuwon nearly
ignited a brawl.
Houston went up 64-58 with the help of the technical and
flagrant foul free throws from Francis and Olajuwon, respectively.
The Rockets settled for a 66-61 lead at the end of three.
Game notes
Carlos Rogers missed Saturday's game due to an asthma
attack ... Mobley received a cut above his right eye early in the
second quarter and left briefly to receive stitches. He returned
midway through the period ... Francis was hit in the throat three
minutes before the first half ended and went to the locker room. He
returned in the second half ... Mario Elie lost against the Rockets
for the first time since leaving Houston in 1998. He's now 8-1 vs.
his old team (7-0 with the Spurs and 1-1 with the Suns).
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NBA Scoreboard
Phoenix Clubhouse
Houston Clubhouse
RECAPS
Toronto 111
Milwaukee 102
Washington 109
Boston 89
Minnesota 94
Atlanta 84
Miami 86
Portland 80
New Jersey 97
Indiana 92
Houston 94
Phoenix 89
Denver 87
LA Lakers 86
Utah 109
Chicago 64
Dallas 91
Vancouver 88
Seattle 86
LA Clippers 83
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