Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 22, 1993 TAG: 9305210320
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: HOUSTON LENGTH: Short
The Western Conference semifinal, tied 3-3, will be settled Saturday in Seattle.
Smith, 3 of 13 in his two previous games, was 13 of 16 from the field, including four 3-pointers, in the highest scoring playoff game of his career.
He had 15 points in the first half and 10 in the breakaway third period when the Rockets outscored Seattle 36-13. Vernon Maxwell, scoreless in the first half, struck for 12 third-quarter points.
Sam Perkins and Derrick McKey led Seattle with 14 points apiece but Shawn Kemp, who had 19 points in Game 5, scored only one, that coming with 7:07 left. Houston center Hakeem Olajuwon was limited to 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Sonics jumped on the Rockets from the start, just as they did in their runaway 120-95 victory in Game 5 and fought off every challenge for a 47-43 halftime lead.
But the Rockets looked like a different team in the third quarter. They started with a 28-11 run that vaulted them to a 71-58 lead with 6:12 to go in the period.
Then they used another 18-4 charge and ended the period with a 89-62 lead, outscoring the Sonics 36-15 for the quarter.
McKey fueled a first-quarter run for the Sonics and had 13 points at intermission.
by CNB