RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
DENVER (AP) -- Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley had 22 points
each, but the Houston Rockets preferred to spread the credit around
after ending the Denver Nuggets' five-game home winning streak with
a 109-105 overtime victory Thursday night.
"Every single guy that came in tonight contributed," said
Francis, who had six assists and seven rebounds. "Even the guys
that didn't score played defense."
Kenny Thomas scored five of his season-high 18 points in
overtime. And then there was Hakeem Olajuwon, who had only nine
points and seven rebounds but hit a key basket at the end of
regulation and added a basket and a steal in overtime when the
Rockets outscored the Nuggets 11-7.
"In that situation you just want to ge a good shot off,"
Olajuwon said of his shot with 7.8 seconds left in regulation.
"You know you're only going to get one chance and it has to
count."
"It wasn't a planned play for Olajuwon, it was just
basketball," said Houston coach Rudy Tomjanovich. "They came to
Francis and we threw it to Hakeem. He made a huge shot."
The effort offset the season-high 40-point, 20-rebound
performance of Denver's Antonio McDyess. Raef LaFrentz had 16
points and Nick Van Exel added 15 points and seven rebounds.
"We wasted an unbelievable performance from McDyess," Denver
coach Dan Issel said. "Mac was terrific, but we really couldn't
find that second consistent scorer to go with him."
Olajuwon's layup 49 seconds into overtime put the Rockets ahead
100-98 and were the only points until LaFrentz hit one free throw
with 2:28 left. After Olajuwon's steal set up a 3-pointer by
Thomas, McDyess hit one free throw to cut Houston's lead to 103-99.
Mobley's reverse layup and two free throws by Thomas increased
the Houston lead to 107-100.
"Getting the points was nice, but we didn't get a win."
McDyess said. "We just didn't get it done in overtime."
Mobley made two layups to cut the Rockets' deficit to 94-93, and
after Van Exel's gliding layup made it 96-93, Mobley sank two free
throws with 1:32 left to get the Rockets to 96-95.
James Posey missed badly from the corner with 25 seconds left
and Francis penetrated and found Olajuwon alone on the right wing
for a 10-foot jumper. McDyess' dunk off a feed from George McCloud
with 7.4 seconds left put the Nuggets back ahead, 98-97 and Francis
managed to make only one of two free throws with 3.2 seconds left
to tie it and send the game into overtime.
Game
notes
Maurice Taylor reached 1,000 career rebounds. ... Houston,
the NBA's second best free throw shooting team was 23-for-42. ...
Van Exel and coach Dan Issel drew technicals with 3:23 left in the
first quarter disputing a non-call on Van Exel's airball. ...
Denver was 17-for-18 from the free throw line in the third quarter.
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NBA Scoreboard
Houston Clubhouse
Denver Clubhouse
RECAPS
Chicago 91
Atlanta 82
Milwaukee 108
Boston 97
Houston 109
Denver 105
Portland 95
Dallas 84
Seattle 121
LA Lakers 88
Golden State 99
Indiana 95
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