Sporting Digest: Basketball

HAKEEM OLAJUWON, of the Houston Rockets, has become the first foreign player to win the NBA's Most Valuable Player award. The Nigerian- born centre, who became a US citizen last year, was the only player named on all 101 ballots.

UNRULY fans disrupted yesterday's Greek championship final between Olympiakos and PAOK Salonica in Athens. The finish of the match was delayed for 40 minutes when flares and coins were thrown on to the court two seconds from time. Olympiakos won the match 70-65.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES, who joined the NBA five years ago as an expansion team, are moving to New Orleans next season. A group led by Top Rank of Louisiana has offered dollars 152.5m ( pounds 103.7m) for the club.

NBA play-off: Western Conference final: Houston 100 Utah 88 (Houston lead best- of-seven series 1-0).