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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
HOUSTON (AP) -- Hakeem Olajuwon surprised everyone but himself as
he fueled Houston's third-quarter comeback.
|  | | The Knicks' Latrell Sprewell (8) walks away as Rockets Hakeem Olajuwon (34) and Steve Francis celebrate victory Monday. |
The 38-year-old Olajuwon scored 10 of his season-high-tying 18
points in the third quarter as the Rockets beat the New York Knicks
100-86 Monday night.
"I really didn't think he had that still in him," New York's
Latrell Sprewell said. "I have a lot of respect for him because
he's been a great player for many years. I just didn't think he
could still do all of that."
Olajuwon also had nine rebounds and two blocked shots as the
Rockets rallied from a 58-46 halftime deficit to lead 80-70 after
three.
"For a 38-year-old guy to get up and down the court like that
just made me want to do that much better," said Steve Francis, who
led the Rockets with 29 points, including 14 in the third quarter,
and 10 rebounds. "Me and Hakeem always work on the give-and-go in
practice. Fortunately, we were able to knock some down in the third
quarter.
Houston swept the season series from the Knicks for the first
time since the 1993-94 season, when the Rockets also beat New York
in the NBA Finals.
"It was satisfying to have a big game and we won," Olajuwon
said. "I feel very comfortable out there. I feel good physically.
When you know you feel good, you know you can play this way. The
key is how I feel physically."
Allan Houston led the Knicks with 31 points. Marcus Camby added
14 and Sprewell had 13. Cuttino Mobley had 21 points, Shandon
Anderson 11 and Maurice Taylor 10 for Houston.
The Rockets led by as many as five points early, but the Knicks
came back with an 8-0 run late in the first period to lead 25-19.
They expanded the lead to as many as 12 points before settling
for a 37-27 first-quarter advantage. Camby and Houston had nine
points apiece and Sprewell eight by then.
Camby had 14 points, and Sprewell and Houston 10 each by the
half as the Knicks led 58-46.
But early in the third period the Rockets outscored the Knicks
16-4, tying the game at 64 on a three-point play by Olajuwon with
5:44 to play in the quarter.
"I'm very happy to see him play like that," Rockets coach Rudy
Tomjanovich said. "He was so determined. The highlight was when he
hit that bank shot. You knew he was in his rhythm then."
Moments later, the Rockets took their first lead since early in
the game at 67-66 on a layup by Olajuwon.
Francis then scored seven straight points and Olajuwon added a
basket that put Houston up 76-68 with 1:42 left in the third.
Mobley's last-second shot gave the Rockets an 80-70 lead at the end
of the quarter.
"Anytime anyone has that much game, you know it's in him,"
Houston said of Olajuwon. "Unfortunately, it came out tonight. He
definitely sparked them. It's hard to believe after a game like
that that there's any talk of letting him go."
New York scored the first six points of the fourth quarter. But
a 10-2 stretch fueled by a pair of baskets by Mobley gave the
Rockets their biggest lead at 90-78 with 6:53 remaining.
Houston scored 11 of the Knicks' first 13 points in the fourth
quarter to keep New York in it.
Game notes
Houston is 1-13 when hitting fewer 3-pointers than its
opponents ... The Rockets are 12-3 vs. Eastern Conference opponents
... The Knicks are 11-6 against the West.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
New York Clubhouse
Houston Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 99
Denver 80
Toronto 110
Boston 98
Dallas 91
Atlanta 81
Houston 100
New York 86
San Antonio 109
Golden State 85
Seattle 95
Vancouver 82
LA Clippers 102
Chicago 82
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Rudy Tomjanovich Official Site
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