Atlanta Hawks

Opponent: Atlanta HawksSite: USAir Arena, LandoverTime: 7:30TV/Radio: HTS/WTEM (570 AM), WWLG (1360 AM)Outlook: The Hawks enter tonight's game with two straight losses. Atlanta ranks second in the league in scoring (106.1 ppg). Washington has lost four of its past five, and has lost 10 straight to Atlanta. G Robert Pack missed yesterday's practice with the flu, but is expected to play.

Auto racingNewman Haas Racing -- Named Michael Andretti and Paul Tracy drivers of three cars each in the Indianapolis 500.BaseballCorrection -- The Associated Press erroneously reported Wednesday that the Atlanta Braves released seven players. The players -- P Reese Murdaugh, P Keith Brown, P Ken Willis, IF Kevin Webb, IF Doug Wollenburg, IF Kevin Grijak and OF Barry Jones -- were sent to the Braves' minor-league camp.Boston Red Sox -- Sent IF Felix Colon to the Detroit Tigers to complete an earlier trade.

ATLANTA -- Hakeem Olajuwon scored four points during a fourth-quarter run as the Houston Rockets pulled away for a 97-86 victory over the Atlanta Hawks last night.After Atlanta had pulled even at 81 on a Grant Long jumper, the Rockets scored nine consecutive points over the next 2:50.Olajuwon finished with 31 points and Mario Elie added 20 for Houston, which has won two straight after a five-game losing streak.

BaseballCalifornia Angels -- Signed IF Lenny Randle to a minor-league contract.Montreal Expos -- Signed P Ramon Garcia, P Miguel Garcia, P David Mosquera, P Julio Strauss, P Gabriel Ozuna, C Clemente Alvarez, OF Rafael Delima, OF Sergio Cairo and OF Raul Tovar.San Francisco Giants -- Signed P Randy Tomlin to a minor-league contract. Announced that OF Derek Reid, who has been working out at the club's minor-league complex, has been added to the team's spring training roster.Texas Rangers -- Released IF Fred Samson.

BasketballAtlanta Hawks -- Placed G Jim Les on the injured list. Signed G Morlon Wiley to a 10-day contract.Dallas Mavericks -- Placed G Jim Jackson on the injured list with a third-degree sprain of the left ankle. Activated F Doug Smith from the injured list.Indiana Pacers -- Waived former Washington Bullets F John Williams. Signed F Mark Strickland to a 10-day contract.FootballChicago Bears -- Withdrew their contract offer to S Shaun Gayle, the last member of the team's Super Bowl XX defense.

ATLANTA -- There were 31 seconds left on the clock, but Lenny Wilkens' celebration could wait no longer. As the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Bullets continued to battle on the floor, Wilkens reached behind the bench to get a light for the big cigar he was handed just moments before, then took one big puff.It was a taste of history -- and a moment that would have made former Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach proud. Atlanta's 112-90 win over the Bullets last night was the 939th of Wilkens' 22-year coaching career, passing the mark held by Auerbach.

Just before Juwan Howard left Chicago to join the Washington Bullets, he was given a warning by a friend there."He told me that when you go to the Washington Bullets youmight lose more games in your first year than you totaled in high school and college," Howard said. "I didn't believe it when he said that."It's time to start believing. In three college seasons, Howard lost 22 games. As far as he can remember from high school in Chicago, he lost 19 games in three varsity seasons. With the 1994 portion of the season now complete with Friday's 115-101 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, the Bullets have a 7-19 record and don't seem to be near ending the slump that has led to 11 losses in the past 12 games.

Before a preseason game, several members of the New York Knicks sat in front of a television set watching tapes of the Washington Bullets."Who are these guys?" one of the Knicks said in all sincerity.It's a different story now, with the trade last week for Chris Webber and the signing of first-round pick Juwan Howard. In one day, the Bullets went from a team of slow overachievers (they started the season 4-1) to one of the more promising teams of the future and a probable playoff team this season.

Hakeem Olajuwon. David Robinson.Ask 100 people their choice for the NBA's Most Valuable Player this season, and you'll probably get nearly a 50-50 split.The only certainty here is that a player from Texas will become the first center to win MVP honors since Moses Malone did it with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1983.Last year, the Phoenix Suns' Charles Barkley won the award BTC because voters were tired of seeing Michael Jordan walk away with the trophy. This season's battle could produce one of the closest races in the history of the award.

Orlando Magic general manager Pat Williams laughed when he was asked just how ready his team is to possibly making some noise in the Eastern Conference come playoff time."