It was win No. 600 and pro team No. 5 for Larry Brown, but even a coaching veteran gets nervous going after win No. 1 with a new team.
"I was very nervous. You never like to take over in the middle of a year," Brown said. "Any time a new coach comes in, obviously there are great expectations. And every time I've gone somewhere, there's been a lot of expectations."Brown's Clippers managed to meet his expectations in his inaugural game Wednesday night with a 97-95 victory over the Houston Rockets. Ron Harper hit a short hook shot in the lane over Houston's Hakeem Olajuwon with 7.5 seconds remaining for the game-winner.
In other games, New Jersey beat Philadelphia 102-87, Dallas defeated Boston 108-100, Denver downed Cleveland 108-102, Portland beat Phoenix 107-97, New York defeated Indiana 111-104, and Sacremento beat Washington 98-97.
Brown's move to the Clippers reunites him with Danny Manning, whom he coached at Kansas. Together they led the Jayhawks to the 1988 NCAA title. Manning said it seemed like old times Wednesday.
"I know the system pretty much, but it has different names now," Manning said. "We came out and tried to learn the framework of the new system and the ins and outs of it.
"It's going to take some time to get used to having Coach Brown back."
Manning scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, including a couple of critical rebounds in the final minutes. Harper scored 21.
Vernon Maxwell scored 22 points for the Rockets, who have dropped eight straight games at the Sports Arena despite beating the Clippers in the last 11 games at the Summit. The loss was Houston's fourth in a row and seventh straight on the road.
"I don't think we're struggling," said Olajuwon, who had 17 points, 13 rebounds, nine blocked shots and nine turnovers. "We could have won the last two games. Harper shot it high, very high. I just needed to be higher. I was one second late."
Brown, fired three weeks ago by the San Antonio Spurs, became only the second of the Clippers' last six head coaches to triumph in their debut. The only other one was Mike Schuler, whom Brown replaced last Sunday night.
The fact that other coaches have been unable to guide the Clippers to success doesn't faze Brown.
"I wouldn't have come here if I didn't think we could turn it around," said the 20-year coaching veteran, who inherited a 22-25 record from Schuler and interim coach Mack Calvin. "I know this team can win."
Nets 102, 76ers 87
At Philadelphia, Sam Bowie had 22 points and 13 rebounds and Tate George scored 22 as New Jersey snappped an eight-game losing streak.
The Nets, trailing 79-78 in the final period, outscored the 76ers 22-4 to go ahead 100-83 with 3:10 left in the game. Bowie and Derrick Colemen, who finished with 21, each scored six points during the rally.
Hersey Hawkins led Philadelphia with 26 points and Armon Gilliam had 20 as the 76ers lost for the fourth time in their last 12 games.
Mavericks 108, Celtics 100
At Dallas, Herb Williams scored 11 of his 23 points during a decisive third-quarter run as the Mavericks broke an eight-game losing streak. Williams hit all five of his shots in the third quarter, including three baskets in the final 1:05, to give Dallas an 83-66 advantage.
The Mavericks had lost 19 of their previous 20 games and had won only once since Christmas.
Derek Harper also scored 23 for Dallas, while Reggie Lewis led the Celtics with 24 points.
Nuggets 108, Cavaliers 102
Reggie Williams scored 22 of his 24 points in the second half as Denver built a 17-point lead over Cleveland, then held on to snap a six-game losing streak.
Dikembe Mutombo contributed 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Mark Macon had 23 and eight rebounds for Denver.
Craig Ehlo led the Cavs with 25 points.
Trail Blazers 107, Suns 97
Clyde Drexler had 24 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists as Portland snapped the NBA's longest home-court winning streak at 19 games by downing Phoenix. The Blazers led from start to finish after opening 8-0 and 25-10 leads.
It was Portland's 15th victory in 18 games and seventh of its last nine on the road, but only its first over the Suns in nearly two years.
Terry Porter had 22 for Portland, while Kevin Johnson led the Suns with 21.
Knicks 111, Pacers 104
At Indianapolis, Patrick Ewing had 35 points and 13 rebounds as New York extended its road winning streak to five.
The Pacers closed to 103-99 when Detlef Schrempf made a layup and another basket with 47 seconds left, but two free throws by Anthony Mason and one by John Starks gave the Knicks the 106-99 with 32 seconds left. Indiana could get no closer.
Detlef Schrempf led Indiana with 26 points and 12 rebounds.
Kings 98, Bullets 97
Lionel Simmons hit a free throw with 44.8 seconds left to boost Sacramento past visiting Washington and give the Kings a three-game winning streak for the first time this season.
Simmons scored seven of his 16 points in the fourth quarter, while Mitch Richmond led the winners with 25 points.
Washington's Harvey Grant scored 22 points to pace the Bullets, who extended their season-high road losing streak to seven.