Monday, April 29, 1996

Rockets return home to try to close out Lakers

By MICHELLE KOIDIN
Associated Press

HOUSTON - The Rockets have snapped their streak of eight consecutive road playoff wins, but coach Rudy Tomjanovich is relieved they've come home to try to close out their series against the Lakers.

Los Angeles tied the best-of-five series 1-1 with a 104-94 victory on Saturday.
"I feel a lot better than I would have if we didn't get that first one and the pressure is all on us," Tomjanovich said. "Now, we've got a great series."

The teams face off in Game 3 on Tuesday night.

"If we get this one, it's not over, but the odds would be seriously in our favor," Tomjanovich said. "Now, it's a battle. We've got a heck of a series here."

The last playoff game the two-time defending NBA champion Rockets lost on the road was Game 2 against Phoenix on May 2, 1995.

Another streak of sorts was broken during this weekend's game: Hakeem Olajuwon fouled out for the first time in 82 playoff games, a span dating to 1987. He had not been banished to the bench in over a year.

Tomjanovich said he wanted to take Olajuwon out after his fifth foul, but never had a chance.
The center picked up his fifth and sixth fouls 19 seconds apart and left the game with 10:05 left to play.

"It made a big difference," said Clyde Drexler, who had occasional problems with a sprained right ankle. "He's our stopper at both ends of the court."

Lakers coach Del Harris said they gave Olajuwon every chance to commit fouls.
"We went after him after he got his second, third, fourth and fifth fouls," Harris said. "It's just something you try to do. In looking back at Game 1, we didn't make him play enough defense. The only thing that stopped him this time was that sixth foul."

Olajuwon, who had 18 points, drew his fifth foul for bumping into Eddie Jones on a rebound on the Rockets' end of the court, then was called on the other end when he went up to try to block Anthony Peeler's driving shot.

He questioned some of the calls.

"It comes down to sincerity. I cannot question their (officials') sincerity. What can you do when you're just around the situation and they call a foul? What can you do with your hands straight up?"
"I was trying to play smart and stay in the game. But the way they were calling fouls, there was no way for me to stay in the game," Olajuwon said.

"We had the game under control, and then it was out of control," Tomjanovich said. "When it happened, I was just thinking that somehow, we're going to win this game. But they made some big plays."