Suns Hammer Rockets

NBA playoffs

The Phoenix Suns, going for the kill after Houston’s Clyde Drexler was ejected in the second quarter, raced to a 130-108 playoff victory Tuesday night over the Rockets.

The lopsided win in the opener of the Western Conference semifinals momentarily turned the tables on the defending champions, who knocked Phoenix out of the 1994 playoffs in the second round.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Thursday night in Phoenix.

A.C. Green led the Suns with 25 points, a career playoff high, on 8-for-12 shooting to go with 15 rebounds. Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich had been wary of a big game from Green.

“The guys got me the ball when I got in an open spot,” Green said.

Charles Barkley added 26 points and 11 rebounds for the Suns and Kevin Johnson had 21 points and 13 assists. The Suns outrebounded the Rockets 48-29.

Sam Cassell scored 31 points for the Rockets and Hakeem Olajuwon had 18, but only four rebounds, while sitting out the fourth quarter. Olajuwon had been averaging 35 points per game in the playoffs.

“This wasn’t the Rockets’ team,” said Green, looking to Game 2. “They’re gonna have Clyde and Hakeem coming back.”

The Suns bolted to 20-point leads over the dispirited Rockets in the second quarter and led 75-57 at halftime. They were up 106-81 after the third quarter.

The ejection overshadowed a strong defensive game by centers Joe Kleine and Wayman Tisdale, who each had 12 points and took Olajuwon out of his game.

Drexler picked up two technical fouls and was ejected with 10:12 left in the second quarter.

The Suns were leading 40-30 when Drexler fouled Dan Majerle. Drexler protested, and referee Jake O’Donnell hit him with a technical.

O’Donnell walked away, but Drexler kept talking, and O’Donnell signaled a second technical, an automatic ejection.

Drexler led Houston with nine first-quarter points.

Suns 130, Rockets 108

HOUSTON (108)

Chilcutt 5-10 0-0 13, Horry 1-4 4-4 7, Olajuwon 8-19 2-3 18, Drexler 3-6 2-2 9, Smith 3-11 0-0 7, Brown 5-10 1-3 11, Cassell 10-15 10-10 31, Jones 0-1 0-2 0, Elie 3-7 2-2 10, Tabak 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 39-84 21-26 108.

PHOENIX (130)

Barkley 10-14 4-6 26, Green 8-12 9-9 25, Kleine 6-7 0-0 12, Johnson 8-12 5-6 21, Person 1-6 4-4 6, Tisdale 6-10 0-2 12, Majerle 2-5 1-2 5, Ainge 4-5 0-0 11, Perry 3-7 3-4 9, Schayes 0-1 0-0 0, Ruffin 1-2 1-2 3. Totals 49-81 27-35 130.

Houston 30 27 24 27 - 108 Phoenix 32 43 31 24 - 130

3-Point goals-Houston 9-24 (Chilcutt 3-4, Elie 2-5, Cassell 1-2, Horry 1-3, Drexler 1-4, Smith 1-6), Phoenix 5-13 (Ainge 3-3, Barkley 2-5, Green 0-1, Majerle 0-1, Ruffin 0-1, Person 0-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Houston 45 (Brown 6), Phoenix 53 (Green 15). Assists-Houston 29 (Smith 10), Phoenix 27 (Johnson 13). Total fouls-Houston 24, Phoenix 20. Technicals- Olajuwon, Drexler 2, Cassell. Ejections-Drexler. A-19,023 (19,023).