Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, December 4, 1993 TAG: 9312040225
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ATLANTA LENGTH: Medium
the bubble, we bust the bubble, don't we?" Houston Coach Rudy Tomjanovich said after Atlanta routed the Rockets 133-111.
Houston fell one victory shy of becoming the first NBA team to start a season with 16 connsecutive win. Mookie Blaylock scored 28 points for the Hawks and Dominique Wilkins added 27. Atlanta steadily pulled away after Stacey Augmon broke a 9-9 tie on a short lane jumper just over three minutes in.
The Rockets appeared tired, playing one night after they beat the New York Knicks 94-85 to tie the mark of 15 victories at the start of a season, set 45 years ago by the Washington Capitols. The Capitols also lost badly - 94-78 to the Indianapolis Jets - when their streak ended.
In becoming the first team to beat the Rockets, the Hawks also stated their case as a team to be reckoned with, winning their 10th straight and becoming the first team to score 100 points against Houston this season.
"Houston is such a good team that what we wanted to do was come out and jump on them right away," Hawks coach Lenny Wilkins said. "You don't want to let a team like that get life because they have a lot of weapons out there."
Hakeem Olajuwon, averaging 26.1 points and 13.5 rebounds, was held to only 17 points and 7 rebounds. He sat out the final quarter after the Hawks had built a 96-71 lead at the end of three quarters.
"I think Atlanta played a fantastic game," Olajuwon said. "I look at the end of the streak as a new beginning. We know we are going to lose sometimes. It is not a question of it, it is just a question of when."
Vernon Maxwell led the Rockets with 26 points.
A sellout crowd of 16,368 roared their approval throughout the rout as the Hawks remained unbeaten at home this season (8-0). Atlanta's overall winning streak is now the longest active one in the NBA.
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB