Praise Goes Hornacek’s Way

Karl Malone and John Stockton got the points and Jeff Hornacek got the praise.

Malone had 27 points and 17 rebounds, and Stockton scored 26 points Saturday night as the Utah Jazz defeated the Houston Rockets for the first time this season, 105-100, in overtime at Houston.

Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan pointed to Hornacek’s clutch shooting in the overtime as the difference.

“He’s always doing that kind of thing,” Sloan said. “The thing about Jeff is even when you’re down 10 points, some guys try to pad their stats but he keeps trying to play the game until it’s over. He’s always done that and it’s rare in this business.”

Hornacek had a three-point basket that gave the Jazz a 98-93 lead with 2:17 to go in overtime and a twisting layup with 28 seconds left that made the score 102-97 and effectively ended Houston’s comeback attempt.

The Rockets’ Hakeem Olajuwon had a season-high 41 points and 15 rebounds.

Chicago 110, Toronto 98--Michael Jordan scored 24 points and Toni Kukoc had 18 points and a career-high 13 assists as the Bulls defeated their unlikely nemeses, the Raptors, at Chicago.

Toronto, a 1995 expansion team, did what no other NBA club has done these last two seasons--beat the Bulls in consecutive regular-season games. The Raptors won, 109-108, in the final meeting last year and topped the defending champions, 97-89, last month.

From March 24 until Saturday, Chicago was 0-2 against Toronto and 48-6 against the rest of the league.

But in opening the second half of this season, the Bulls made sure that trend wouldn’t continue. They built a 55-32 lead and cruised to victory.

Denver 83, Vancouver 82--LaPhonso Ellis jammed in a rebound with 2.6 seconds remaining as the Nuggets ruined Stu Jackson’s coaching debut by beating the Grizzlies at Vancouver, Canada.

Ellis scored his game-winner after Greg Anthony’s two free throws with 9.7 seconds left had given the Grizzlies a one-point lead.

Dallas 92, New Jersey 81--Dallas’ defense held New Jersey scoreless over the final 5:15 at Dallas and the Mavericks ended a three-game losing streak

Jim Jackson and Jamal Mashburn, once the franchise’s cornerstone players, have struggled this season. But they combined to go 16 for 28 from the field for the Mavericks.

Atlanta 95, Boston 90--Mookie Blaylock made three free throws and Eldridge Recasner two in the final 15 seconds as the Hawks earned their 19th consecutive home victory, the NBA’s longest streak this season.

Celtic rookie Antoine Walker scored 22 points but missed a driving layup and two free throws in the final two minutes.

Detroit 104, Philadelphia 95--Grant Hill’s triple-double led the Pistons at Auburn Hills, Mich.

The Pistons used a big second quarter to take a 56-44 halftime lead. They trailed, 36-35, when Hill started the surge with a three-point play that led to an 11-0 run.

Hill finished with 21 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists.

Cleveland 106, Charlotte 73--Tyrone Hill had 20 points and 11 rebounds at Cleveland and the Cavaliers enjoyed their biggest victory margin this season.

Washington 113, Sacramento 105--Rod Strickland scored eight points in a 12-0 fourth-quarter run that enabled Washington to pull away at Landover, Md., despite 38 points by Mitch Richmond.

Milwaukee 88, Indiana 86--Elliot Perry won the game by making an off-balance jumper as time expired at Indianapolis.

Portland 101, Minnesota 94--Isaiah Rider of the Trail Blazers scored 14 of his 26 points in the third quarter at Portland.

Minnesota’s 16th loss in its last 17 games against Portland spoiled a 32-point performance by Kevin Garnett.