clarinews@clarinet.com (RICHARD LUNA, UPI Sports Writer) (02/02/90)
HOUSTON (UPI) -- Eric ``Sleepy'' Floyd is showing he can be the difference between the Houston Rockets being one of the best teams in the NBA and one of the worst. Floyd scored 4 points in each of Houston's last two games, both losses to Dallas. But Wednesday night, he poured in 20 points and handed out 7 assists to help the Rockets to a convincing 133-112 victory over the Chicago Bulls. ``I was trying to be more aggressive,'' said Floyd. ``When we play against a running team like Chicago, I am a lot more involved. When we play in a half-court game, I am less effective.'' Otis Thorpe and Akeem Olajuwon continued to provide the Rockets with solid performances. Thorpe led Houston with 30 points and 13 rebounds while Olajuwon finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 7 blocked shots. ``We really needed this game tonight,'' said Thorpe, who has scored 59 points in his last two games. ``We jumped right on them and stayed right there. I wanted to establish myself and to protect my territory.'' Chicago received the usual peformance from Michael Jordan, who led all scorers with 35 points, but only one other starter scored in double figures -- Scottie Pippen with 10. Jordan left the game with 8:27 to play, when the Bulls trailed 122-89. ``It is sad, but there are going to be nights like this,'' said Jordan. ``We were never in this ball game. We did not show up tonight.'' The only other Bulls in double figures were Craig Hodges with 13 and Will Perdue with 10. Houston jumped to a 20-point first quarter lead and never allowed the Bulls closer than 12 the rest of the game. The Rockets grabbed their first 30-point lead with 5:44 left to play in the third period on two free throws by Thorpe. The Rockets led 110-80 entering the final period after Mitchell Wiggins and Floyd each had 10 points in the third quarter as Houston put the contest away. Houston starters outscored Chicago's 107-63. The Rockets shot 62 percent from the field compared with Chicago, which fired in 44 percent of its shots. ``I have only one thing to say: This is one of the longest nights I have ever had in the NBA and I have been in this league 18 years,'' said Chicago Coach Phil Jackson, who saw his Bulls match their worst loss of the season. Houston led at the half 77-55, by shooting 69 percent from the field, making 31-of-45 shots. Thorpe led the way with 22 points as the 77 points were the most Houston has scored in one half this season. ``Last night we could not hit anything,'' said Houston Coach Don Chaney, referring to a 98-91 loss at Dallas in which the Rockets scored just 11 points in the fourth quarter. ``Tonight, we came out shooting well right off the bat. I would like to see us have the same mental intensity on the road.''