Rockets Fall To Rising Hawks

February 25, 1999 / 11:30 PM EST / AP

Even with a makeshift lineup, the Atlanta Hawks were too good for the Houston Rockets.

Grant Long had 20 points and LaPhonso Ellis scored two crucial late baskets, helping the Hawks hold off the charging Rockets 93-87 Thursday night.

With Alan Henderson (back spasms) and Steve Smith (ankle sprain) sidelined with injuries, Long and Tyrone Corbin made their first starts of the year. Corbin hit 17 points.

"They both really did provide us with some energy," Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens said. "I knew Long could play, but I wouldn't have expected that much out of him. But he's been giving us some great minutes.

"I'm very pleased, because we talked about coming out and playing with some kind of energy, and we did that."

The Hawks handed the Rockets their first home loss in five games this season, but they almost let it get away. Scottie Pippen had 15 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for the Rockets and Hakeem Olajuwon had 16 points and 16 rebounds.

"We just didn't bring the energy we needed tonight to beat this team," Pippen said. "This team (Atlanta) had lost two games coming in here and they were very desperate.

"They had two guys missing and I think we sort of took them lightly. We didn't play very well."

Atlanta was leading 78-64 with 7:42 left in the game when Houston went on a 16-4 run to get to 82-80 with 3:39 left.

Houston's Cuttino Mobley had 11 fourth-quarter points and Matt Bullard had seven points in the final period, but it wasn't enough.

With Atlanta leading 84-81 with 1:23 to play, Ellis hit consecutive baskets for an 88-81 lead with 57 seconds to go, finishing the Rockets.

Long's 20 points were a season high and he also had 10 rebounds. Tyrone Corbin scored 17 points.

"Any time you count on players, like the ones we were missing, you know you have to come in and take the load off," Long said. "We knew we had to give us something extra."

The Hawks took the lead midway in the second quarter and held a 49-42 lead at the half. Houston regained the lead 58-57 on a jumper by Olajuwon with 4:15 to go in the third quarter.

Long's basket took the lead right back and the Hawks went into the fourth period leading 66-59.

The Rockets took the early lead behind three quick baskets by Olajuwon, but the Hawks started a 19-10 run with 7:55 left in the second quarter and lifted them to a 49-42 lead at the half.

"This was a getaway game and you are ready to go out," Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "It's even more disappointing after the way we played against Seattle (a 98-86 victory). Things were going good early and that is the kiss of death sometimes.

"They kept their edge and we did not."

Notes: The Rockets activated Antoine Carr from the injured list prior to the game and placed Stanley Roberts on the list with a right hamstring strain sustaineFeb. 16 against Phoenix. Carr had been on the Rockets' injured list since the season started with a right knee problem. ... Injured Steve Smith (sprained right knee) has led the Hawks in scoring in each of the nine games he's played. The Hawks are 1-2 with Smith out of the lineup. ... Atlanta's Alan Henderson needs two rebounds to reach 1,000 for his career.