Rockets Black Out Suns 109-92

Everyone knew Hakeem Olajuwon would do his job. Now they know Othella Harrington can do his.

Olajuwon had his expected 19 points and 11 rebounds and led a key third-quarter charge, and Harrington had 17 points and 13 rebounds filling in for Charles Barkley as the Houston Rockets beat the Phoenix Suns 109-92.

The Rockets won their fifth straight game and ended Phoenix's nine-game road winning streak.

Harrington is losing his obscure status.

"He's just playing more minutes now, he's been a very productive player for some time," Tomjanovich said. "He's one of the most productive players in the league."

Olajuwon also got plenty of help from Scottie Pippen, who had 19 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. Matt Bullard added 14 points, including four of five from 3-point range.

"I've seen Othella develop since last year," Olajuwon said. "His work ethic is incredible. He plays like this every day in practice. You guys might be surprised but nobody on this team is surprised."

Harrington played with poise.

"I have confidence in my ability," Harrington said. "I know I have Dream and I have Scottie here. I just want to contribute."

Did he get any pregame advice from Barkley, who is out 3-4 weeks recovering from knee surgery?

"Well, yeah," Harrington said. "He said, `now we'll see what kind of player you really are."

Phoenix came out strong to start the third quarter and quickly made up a 45-41 halftime deficit. The Suns tied it twice, the last time at 49-49 before Olajuwon took over.

Olajuwon scored eight points during a 19-6 run to give the Rockets a 68-55 lead with 3:41 to go in the third quarter en route to a 79-62 lead going into the fourth quarter.

"We got frustrated because our shots weren't falling down," Suns guard Jason Kidd said. "We got some good looks, it just didn't work out for us. That was pretty much it, we got frustrated."

The Rockets also helped themselves in the second half at the free throw line. After starting the game 2-for-9, they hit their next 18 in a row.

Harrington pulled his own weight in the closely fought first half with 11 points and nine rebounds, including seven points in the final three minutes of the second quarter.

Phoenix had six players in double figures led by Tom Gugliotta and Kidd with 14 each. Kidd, the NBA assists leader, had 11 against the Rockets.

"They (Rockets) definitely looked like the pressure team tonight," Suns coach Danny Ainge said. "We looked like we were trying but just couldn't get it done. You could see it in their faces (Suns) more than anything else that they just weren't into it."

Notes

• Harrington hit six-of-seven shots against Dallas and entered the game leading the NBA in shooting percentage. He was seven of 10 Tuesday night.
• Barkley, off to one of the best starts of his career before knee surgery, is 19 assists away from reaching 4,000.
• Gugliotta has had a double-double in four of the Suns' six games.
• The Rockets waived center John Coker before the game.
• The Rockets are having a difficult time keeping their big men healthy. Antoine Carr is sidelined following knee surgery and Stanley Roberts left the game with 8:33 left in the second quarter with a strained right hamstring and did not return.

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