Pippen Will Stay With Bulls

Chicago Bulls forward Scottie Pippen said he’ll return to the team when his surgically repaired foot allows him to play.

Pippen, who said in late November he wouldn’t play for the five-time champions when he was healthy, said Friday he has changed his mind.

“It’s difficult to tell you, the media, anything, because everything comes out twisted,” Pippen told WMVP radio in Chicago. “But I’m doing everything I can to get ready to play, and if I have to come back and play with the Bulls, then I guess I will.”

Step right up

Assistant coach Elston Turner says the Portland Trail Blazers need a leader on the court and a little more time thinking about basketball off the court.

Turner played eight seasons in the NBA - two as part of the Bulls’ backcourt with Michael Jordan.

Turner said the young Blazers would be better if they developed more constructive peer pressure and had at least one player who commanded respect to guide the others during rough times.

“That leadership role on our team is open for whoever wants to take it,” Turner said.

Robinson moves up

David Robinson reached 15,000 career points, scoring 34 Friday night as the San Antonio Spurs won their seventh straight with a 101-86 victory over the visiting Boston Celtics.

Robinson is 78th on the NBA’s career scoring list.