Rockets Over Jazz 100-93

March 10, 1998 / 12:28 AM EST / AP

Karl Malone had 29 points, 21 rebounds and six assists as the Utah Jazz came from behind for their seventh successive win, 100-93 over the undermanned Houston Rockets on Monday night.

The Rockets played the game without Hakeem Olajuwon, Kevin Willis and Mario Elie, who were suspended for their part in a fight near the end of Houston's 108-89 win at Phoenix on Saturday.

The Jazz survived 37 points from Houston's Eddie Johnson, who hit 13 of 18 shots from the field, including 4-of-7 3-pointers. At one point, Johnson hit nine straight shots; he almost single-handedly delivered a shocking upset with his season high in points.

But Utah rallied for its first victory this season after trailing entering the fourth quarter (1-13). Houston led 78-74 after three periods, but Utah outscored the Rockets 26-15 in the final quarter.

John Stockton scored six points in the game's final three minutes as the Jazz recovered from a nine-point deficit early in the fourth quarter.

With the win, the Jazz swept the season series from their Midwest Division rivals. The Jazz have won 16 of their last 18 games and are matching the pace they set last season on the way to the Western Conference's best record.

Antoine Carr's free throw with 3:58 to play gave Utah its first lead since the first quarter. After Stockton's jumper with 2:06 to play gave the Jazz a 94-91 lead, Houston's Brent Price was called for a holding foul.

Price protested wildly, was hit with a technical foul and had to be restrained by coach Rudy Tomjanovich. Stockton hit two of the three free throws.

The Jazz lead the NBA in field-goal percentage, but they hit just 43 percent Monday night. Utah overcame its shooting woes by outrebounding the Rockets 48-32.

Charles Barkley had 10 points and 11 rebounds for Houston, and Clyde Drexler added 15 points. Reserve Othella Harrington played 29 minutes for the shorthanded Rockets and had 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Jazz opened the game with a 12-3 run, but Houston countered with a 20-5 run. The Rockets hit 58 percent of their shots in the first half.

Johnson and the Jazz each scored 19 points in the second period. Houston took a 57-47 lead to halftime, with 25 points from Johnson.

Notes:-Willis would have played in his 1,000th NBA game if not for the suspension. Barkley played his 999th game.
-Houston will have to win nine of its remaining 11 road games to keep intact its streak of five consecutive winning road records.
-Utah is 13-1 since the All-Star break.