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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Karl Malone is on the brink of joining
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan as the
only NBA players to score more than 29,000 points.
But forget the milestone. Malone would rather talk about his
defense.
|  | | Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon had three blocks, but couldn't swat this attempts by Utah's Bryon Russell. |
Malone scored 21 points and John Stockton added 18 points and
seven assists as the Utah Jazz beat the Houston Rockets 98-82 on
Thursday night.
Going into Saturday night's game at Seattle, Malone needs 19
points to become the fourth player in NBA history to score 29,000
points. The others are Abdul-Jabbar (38,387 points), Chamberlain
(31,419) and Jordan (29,277).
"I don't want to be known only as an offensive player," Malone
said. "The defensive awards the last three years are sometimes
what I'm most proud of."
For the past three seasons, coaches have named Malone to the
NBA's All-Defensive First Team. Going against Malone most of the
night, Charles Barkey scored eight points and had five rebounds.
Asked about breaking the 29,000-point barrier, Malone said: "I
just want to concentrate on winning ballgames. It'll happen soon
enough if I can stay healthy. I don't even think about it."
Stockton, meanwhile, was 8-of-8 from the floor and hit both of
his free throw attempts. Jeff Hornacek added 11 of his 17 points in
the third quarter as the Jazz pulled away from a 44-44 tie.
"A couple of shots fell," Stockton said. "There really is no
explanation. We try to do the same things that we do every night.
We try to make cuts off of Karl because they are so worried about
stopping him."
Malone was called for a charging into Barkley with 6:37 to play
in the third and referee Violet Palmer added a technical after
Malone argued. The Rockets pulled within 48-45 on the ensuing free
throw by Walt Williams.
It fired up the Jazz, who closed the period with a 20-14 run.
Utah put the game out of reach with an 11-3 run over a span of 1:33
early in the fourth quarter with Malone, Stockton and Hornacek on
the bench.
Jacque Vaughn had two baskets and Bryon Russell, after starting
0-for-9, added a 3-pointer and a fast-break dunk in the burst.
Howard Eisley scored 11 points off the bench as the Jazz avoided
starting the season 0-2 for the first time in 14 years.
Cuttino Mobley scored 17 points for the Rockets, who had seven
turnovers in the first 6½ minutes and finished with 23. Hakeem
Olajuwon added 12 points and Bryce Drew 10 but Houston never led.
"I was really disappointed," said coach Rudy Tomjanovich. "We
worked on these guys (Jazz) yesterday and I thought we had a good
shootaround today. We're not transferring what our plan is to the
floor."
Rockets swingman Shandon Anderson returned to the Delta Center,
where he spent the first three seasons of his NBA career with the
Jazz.
Drafted by Utah in the second round in 1996, Anderson signed
with the Rockets as a free agent for a $2 million this season,
rejecting Utah's offer of a starting slot and up to $24 million
over five years.
Jazz fans didn't forget, lustily booing Anderson during
introductions and every time he touched the ball. When he was
called for an offensive foul with 8:18 remaining in the first
quarter, the capacity crowd of 19,142 cheered wildly.
Anderson was scoreless after missing his only shot of the first
half. He finished with 4 points on 2-of-4 shooting.
"I think I was a little anxious," Anderson said. "On the
first two plays, I tried to rush the ball too early. Once I settled
down in the second half, I hit a couple of shots."
After scoring 14 points in a 91-84 opening-night loss to the
Lakers on Tuesday, Malone seemed poised to reach the milestone in
one night. He scored 12 straight points during a five-minute span
of the first quarter.
Malone was 8-of-12 against the Rockets and 5-of-7 from the foul
line. He added eight rebounds as the Jazz held a 37-28 rebounding
advantage, bolstered by 10 boards by Greg Ostertag.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Houston Clubhouse
Utah Clubhouse
RECAPS
Toronto 97
Miami 86
Milwaukee 119
Atlanta 109
Charlotte 98
Indiana 89
San Antonio 104
Golden State 81
Phoenix 84
Philadelphia 80
Utah 98
Houston 82
Seattle 106
Dallas 96
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