Olajuwon Told To Rest

Doctors told Hakeem Olajuwon to stop playing for up to three weeks because of on-going breathing problems.

“He is still having problems, so we asked him to take some time off,” Dr. James Muntz said Wednesday after examining the Houston Rockets star center. “We told him he would probably be out two to three weeks and that’s getting toward the end of the season.”

The NBA regular season ends April 19.

Olajuwon, 37, was diagnosed March 1 with a disease that restricts the flow of air through his bronchial passages during heavy exercise, causing spasms in his lungs. He has been taking medicine for the condition.

Pistons conquer Blazers

Grant Hill took over the fourth quarter for a second straight night, scoring 14 of his 24 points in the period as the visiting Detroit Pistons rallied to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 104-95 Wednesday night.

Kidd breaks ankle

A broken ankle for Jason Kidd tempered the Phoenix Suns’ 114-93 victory over the Sacramento Kings in Phoenix.

Kidd, who leads the NBA in assists and averages 14.5 points per game, will have surgery today.

Elsewhere

Shaquille O’Neal scored 14 of his 22 points in the first 8 minutes as the Los Angeles Lakers took command early in rolling to a 119-96 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Ls Angeles.

Allen Iverson scored 44 points, including 31 in the second half, and Tyrone Hill added 20 points and 12 rebounds as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the visiting Toronto Raptors 106-93 in a preview of a potential first-round series in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Darrell Armstrong had 27 points and 10 assists and the Orlando Magic maintained their hold on the eighth playoff position in the Eastern Conference with a 103-90 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in Orlando.

Tim Duncan scored 30 points in his best game since returning from an abdominal injury, and the San Antonio Spurs rebounded from Tuesday’s embarrassing loss to Dallas with a 103-78 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in San Antonio.

Notes

New Jersey Nets center Jayson Williams has undergone foot surgery, a week after breaking a bone in his left foot… . Injured Phoenix Suns forward Tom Gugliotta has told the U.S. Olympic Team to replace him on its roster for the games in Sydney later this year… . Derrick Coleman of the Charlotte Hornets was fined $7,500 by the NBA for a flagrant foul against Philadelphia’s Toni Kukoc in a game Monday night at Charlotte.