NBA ROUNDUP : For Starks, No More Two for 18

John Starks has been hearing it since last June 22 . . . two for 18 , two for 18 .

Why did New York lose to Houston in Game 7 of the NBA finals? Two for 18 , two for 18 .

Things got better Thursday when Starks made nine of 17 shots and scored 22 points to help the Knicks to a 93-77 victory at Houston.

“You could feel the intensity from last year,” Starks said. “I think I played under control and took the ball to the basket more. I can’t worry about what happened last year. I’m beyond that now.”

Hakeem Olajuwon led Houston with 28 points and 17 rebounds.

“(Starks) played well. You’ve got to take your hat off to him because he came back from a lot of criticism from that last game last year,” Rocket guard Vernon Maxwell said.

The Rockets dropped to a 10-7 home record. They were 36-5 at home last season.

Milwaukee 120, Washington 115--Glenn Robinson scored 30 points and Todd Day added 29 at Milwaukee as the Bucks won their third in a row.

Seattle 102, Minnesota 87--Detlef Schrempf scored 16 of his 22 points in the third quarter and the SuperSonics overcame a lethargic performance with tough defense at Minneapolis to win their eighth in a row.

Phoenix 122, Portland 115--Dan Majerle scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, all on three-point baskets, as the Suns won at Portland, where, because of suspensions after a Tuesday night melee in Sacramento, the Trail Blazers dressed only eight players. Clyde Drexler, Rod Strickland and Mark Bryant weren’t at the game.

Sacramento 112, Golden State 103--Mitch Richmond scored 22 of his 26 points in the second half and the Kings came back from an 18-point deficit to deal Golden State its 14th consecutive road loss.