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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Steve Francis didn't remember what happened.
The Philadelphia 76ers won't forget anytime soon.
Francis and Cuttino Mobley each scored 23 points and Hakeem
Olajuwon added 18 points and 14 rebounds as the Houston Rockets
beat the Sixers 112-87 Wednesday night.
|  | | Cuttino Mobley beats the Sixers' Theo Ratliff to the hoop for two his 23 points in Houston's blowout win in Philly. |
But Francis left a bigger impression on Philadelphia by engaging
in a shouting match with Sixers coach Larry Brown after the game.
Brown was upset that Dan Langhi scored off an alley-oop pass
from Shandon Anderson as time expired. Francis yelled back at Brown
as the teams left the court.
"I don't even remember. My head was hurting," Francis said.
Brown wouldn't address the matter other than saying, "They
played great until the last five-tenths of a second."
Tyrone Hill and many of his teammates were livid.
"You've got to show Coach Brown more respect," Hill said.
"You don't scream and curse him out. I like Steve Francis, but
when you're up (23), you throw the ball inbounds and let time run
out. I'm shocked."
The Rockets, just 11-22 in the Western Conference, improved to
13-3 against the East by defeating the team with the NBA's best
record.
Allen Iverson had 26 points on 10-for-28 shooting and Theo
Ratliff added 14 for Philadelphia, which slipped to 36-14.
The Sixers enter the All-Star break with three losses in their
last four games. Houston has won two straight.
"We just had that killer instinct," Rockets coach Rudy
Tomjanovich said. "Our spacing and our shooting and
decision-making was very good."
Houston took its biggest lead, 70-48, on two free throws by
Olajuwon midway through the third quarter. A buzzer-beating jumper
by Iverson cut it to 81-69 after three.
But the Sixers missed six straight to start the fourth quarter
and Houston pulled away with a 15-2 run. A 3-pointer by Matt
Bullard gave the Rockets a 96-71 lead with 7:08 left. Philadelphia
didn't get closer than 22 the rest of the way.
"We're taking too many bad shots and too many quick shots,"
Brown said.
Olajuwon, coming off an 18-point, nine-rebound performance in a
100-86 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday, made 7-of-14.
Bullard scored 11 points in the second quarter, including nine
on 3-pointers as Houston took a 52-24 halftime lead. Bullard, who
had just seven points combined in the last five games, finished
with 18.
"I feel comfortable to be in the flow with the offense,"
Olajuwon said. "That's what I've been trying to do all along
because I know I can help."
The Rockets outscored the Sixers 20-6 to close the first
quarter, including a 12-0 run that gave them an 18-15 lead.
Philadelphia went 4:32 without a field goal and never regained the
lead.
"I didn't see it," Iverson said about the final play. "I
don't see anything wrong with it if that's the type of players they
are. I guess it felt real good to them that they beat us."
Game notes
Iverson had scored 30 or more in five straight. He got a
technical foul in the fourth quarter after complaining about a
non-foul call. ... Ratliff has blocked at least one shot in 49
consecutive games. ... Olajuwon blocked shots by Iverson and George
Lynch on consecutive possessions in the second quarter. His 14
rebounds were a season-high. ... The Rockets are 16-4 when scoring
more than 100 points and the Sixers are 3-5 when allowing 100 or
more. ... Rodney Buford scored 13 points in a reserve role for the
Sixers.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Houston Clubhouse
Philadelphia Clubhouse
Olajuwon now says he wants to finish year with Rockets
RECAPS
Boston 94
Milwaukee 91
Houston 112
Philadelphia 87
San Antonio 107
Cleveland 89
New York 96
Dallas 93
Orlando 107
Washington 98
Minnesota 117
Sacramento 88
Portland 97
Seattle 80
Golden State 89
LA Clippers 88
LA Lakers 85
Phoenix 83
Utah 92
Vancouver 82
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Rudy Tomjanovich Official Site
Larry Brown Official Site
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