Rockets Hand Clippers 8th Straight Loss

HOUSTON — Purvis Short and Akeem Olajuwon scored 30 points each Tuesday night to lead the Houston Rockets to a 116-110 victory, handing the Clippers their eighth straight loss.

The Rockets (37-24) have won four of their last five games. The Clippers (12-48) have lost 24 consecutive road games.

Rodney McCray added 18 points and 10 rebounds for Houston. The Clippers were paced by Benoit Benjamin’s 25 points and 12 rebounds. Mike Woodson had 22 points, and rookie Ken Norman 21 points and 6 rebounds.

Olajuwon opened both the first and third quarters with 6 quick points, and he had 10 of Houston’s first 15 points in the third period when the Rockets moved ahead, 73-57.

Short connected on 6 of 7 shots for 13 points, including three consecutive long jump shots, for a 79-61 lead at 3:33 in the third quarter.

With 7:10 remaining, Benjamin’s second straight dunk shot pulled the Clippers within eight points, but McCray finished two fast breaks to give the Rockets a 98-86 lead.

Norman kept the pressure on with three baskets, concluding with a break-away dunk, and the Rockets’ lead narrowed to 106-99 with 1:40 to go. Larry Drew’s two three-pointers made it 112-107 before Houston scored its last 10 points from the foul line.