Jordan Varies Tactics Other Players Dominate Offense As Bulls Tie Series With Magic

Michael Jordan sized up the game and went to work. He eased his way into the flow, let his teammates take some shots and then was fresh in the final quarter when the Chicago Bulls needed him most.

“He’s more intent on getting everybody else involved,” Bulls coach Phil Jackson said. “We talked about letting it come to him within our scheme.”

Jordan, after a scoreless first quarter and only 10 first-half points, finished with 26 Sunday as the Bulls beat the Orlando Magic 106-95 to even the Eastern Conference semifinals at 2-2. Game 5 is Tuesday night in Orlando.

“I don’t think we held Michael in check. I think Michael took a note from Magic and Bird - get everyone else going so they can’t focus on you. Michael can get himself going any time he wants,” Magic forward Anthony Avent said.

The Bulls spaced the floor, moved the ball around and didn’t try to have Jordan take all the shots. He scored 40 points in a Game 3 loss, including 31 in a quick-starting first half, but then made several key mistakes late in the game when he appeared to be leg weary.

On Sunday he was just 4-for-13 in the first half but 5-of-8 in the second. His 21 shots were six under his average for the first three games.

“It seems to be the theme of this team over the years during the playoffs that Michael takes over and guys get lost in the shuffle,” Bulls guard Steve Kerr said. “Michael took it upon himself tonight to get other people involved.”

Chicago had an eight-point lead entering the final quarter and this time didn’t falter. Toni Kukoc made a key 3-pointer with 1:30 left to fend off a late rally by the Magic.

“Toni was the big key,” Jordan said as he left the floor. “He hit a big basket down the stretch.”

Kukoc said spreading the scoring made it easier to get a feel for the game.

“When everyone is involved in the game, it is much easier to play,” Kukoc said. “Everyone gets the feeling of the ball and it’s easier to play that way. My 3-pointer, I was open and I took the shot.”

Scottie Pippen added 24 points for the Bulls, including 17 in the first half.

Orlando was hurt by 22 turnovers and sub-par offensive games from Shaquille O’Neal and Nick Anderson.

O’Neal, bottled up by the Bulls double-teaming, finished with 17 points, managing just five field goals. Anderson, whose scoring and defense on Jordan had helped the Magic win Games 1 and 3, hit only 2-of-7 shots for 11 points while Anfernee Hardaway was 6-of-17 for 16 points.

Horace Grant of the Magic continued his strong play against his former team, with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Dennis Scott added 20 points.

B.J. Armstrong added 18 points for the Bulls while Kukoc had 13 with seven rebounds and nine assists.

Jordan, Anderson, Grant and O’Neal refused to talk to reporters after the game. Jordan last spoke to the media after Game 1 except for a brief interview with NBC on Sunday.

“We can fine them,” NBA spokesman Brian McIntyre said. “But we’d rather appeal to people’s kinder instincts.”

Orlando trailed 59-48 at the half. But Grant scored eight points to spark an early 19-8 third-quarter spurt by the Magic that pulled them into a 67-67 tie with just over 5 minutes left in the period.

Jordan’s steal and breakaway slam, a 3-pointer by Armstrong and six free throws in the final 2 minutes allowed the Bulls to regain an eight-point advantage with a quarter left.

Chicago went up nine on Pippen’s jumper but Anderson hit two free throws and finally made his first 3-pointer to pull the Magic to 93-89 with just under 4 minutes remaining.

After a bad pass by O’Neal, Jordan drove the lane and fed Will Perdue for a layup before Scott scored to make it 95-91.

Kukoc hit a 3-pointer from the side. Hardaway scored inside, but Jordan dropped in two free throws at 1:06. Chicago then made six more from the line in the closing seconds.

Bulls 106, Magic 95

ORLANDO (95)

Grant 9-11 3-4 21, Scott 8-16 0-1 20, O’Neal 5-10 7-10 17, Anderson 2-7 6-8 11, Hardaway 6-17 3-4 16, Shaw 1-7 2-2 4, Avent 1-1 3-3 5, Bowie 0-1 1-2 1, Royal 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 32-70 25-34 95.

CHICAGO (106)

Pippen 7-15 7-9 24, Kukoc 6-13 0-0 13, Longley 1-3 3-4 5, Armstrong 5-9 7-9 18, Jordan 9-21 8-8 26, Harper 1-2 0-0 2, Myers 0-0 0-0 0, Perdue 4-7 3-5 11, Buechler 0-3 1-2 1, Kerr 1-2 0-0 2, Wennington 2-5 0-0 4, Blount 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 36-80 29-37 106.

Orlando 20 28 24 23 - 95 Chicago 34 25 21 26 - 106

3-Point goals-Orlando 6-18 (Scott 4-9, Anderson 1-1, Hardaway 1-5, Shaw 0-3), Chicago 5-15 (Pippen 3-7, Armsrtrong 1-2, Kukoc 1-3, Jordan 0-1, Buechler 0-1, Kerr 0-1). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Orlando 51 (Grant 13), Chicago 48 (Kukoc, Jordan 7). Assists-Orlando 21 (O’Neal 9), Chicago 29 (Kukoc 9). Total fouls-Orlando 24, Chicago 25. Technicals-Orlando illegal defense. A-24,358 (21,500).