Magic Bumps Ref, Receives Swift Ejection

NBA

Magic Johnson became the latest NBA player to have a run-in with an official as he was ejected for bumping a referee in the the Los Angeles Lakers’ 118-114 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif.

Johnson, one of the most outspoken critics of players who have clashed physically with officials, bumped referee Scott Foster with his left shoulder in the second quarter and was immediately ejected.

Cedric Ceballos had 23 points and Sedale Threatt, replacing Nick Van Exel in the starting lineup, had 21 points and seven assists as the Lakers won their 50th game - the first season they have reached that plateau since 1990-91, Johnson’s last year before he began his comeback.

Phoenix center Joe Kleine fainted during the national anthem and was taken to a hospital for overnight evaluation. Dr. Stephen J. Lombardo, the Lakers physician, said Kleine had a similar episode in Phoenix while exercising two weeks ago.

Lakers 118, Suns 114

Phoenix (114) - Barkley 6-15 5-5 17, Finley 6-12 0-0 13, Green 7-11 4-6 18, Person 5-11 1-2 14, K.Johnson 10-20 5-5 26, Tisdale 12-21 0-0 24, Carr 1-1 0-0 2, Perry 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 47-91 15-18 114.

L.A. Lakers (118) - Campbell 8-11 2-2 18, Ceballos 10-20 2-4 23, Divac 5-8 2-2 12, Jones 8-15 2-3 20, Threatt 9-17 0-0 21, Strong 0-1 0-0 0, Peeler 4-10 3-3 14, M.Johnson 3-4 2-2 8, Lynch 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 48-89 13-16 118.

Phoenix 31 27 27 29 - 114

L.A. Lakers 33 31 27 27 - 118

3-Point goals-Phoenix 5-11 (Person 3-5, Finley 1-1, K.Johnson 1-4, Barkley 0-1), Los Angeles 9-23 (Peeler 3-6, Threatt 3-8, Jones 2-6, Ceballos 1-3). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Phoenix 42 (Green 14), Los Angeles 49 (Divac 13). Assists-Phoenix 26 (K.Johnson 16), Los Angeles 27 (Jones, Threatt 7). Total fouls-Phoenix 14, Los Angeles 22. Technicals-M.Johnson 2, Barkley. Ejections-M.Johnson. A-17,505 (17,505).

Bulls 98, Cavaliers 72

Cleveland

Chicago reached the threshold of NBA history, tying the league record of 69 victories in a season behind Michael Jordan’s 32 points and 12 rebounds.

The Bulls matched the record set in 1971-72 by the Los Angeles Lakers of Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West. Chicago can surpass it - and become the first NBA team ever to reach 70 wins - Tuesday night at Milwaukee.

Chicago (98) - Pippen 5-11 3-4 13, Kukoc 2-8 0-0 6, Longley 2-4 2-4 6, Harper 5-9 3-4 15, Jordan 11-18 6-6 32, Rodman 0-1 3-4 3, Kerr 4-8 0-0 10, Buechler 1-3 0-0 3, Wennington 2-4 0-0 4, Brown 1-3 2-2 4, Simpkins 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 34-70 19-24 98.

Cleveland (72) - Mills 7-13 0-0 16, Ferry 2-9 1-2 5, Cage 1-1 0-0 2, Phills 4-11 0-0 9, Brandon 9-19 3-4 21, Hill 1-5 1-2 3, Majerle 4-8 1-2 11, Sura 0-3 0-0 0, Crotty 1-2 0-0 3, Lang 0-1 0-0 0, Marshall 0-2 0-0 0, Johnson 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 30-75 6-10 72.

Chicago 24 22 25 27 - 98

Cleveland 17 18 14 23 - 72

3-Point goals-Chicago 11-20 (Jordan 4-7, Kerr 2-2, Kukoc 2-3, Harper 2-4, Buechler 1-3, Pippen 0-1), Cleveland 6-16 (Majerle 2-4, Mills 2-4, Crotty 1-1, Phills 1-4, Marshall 0-1, Brandon 0-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Chicago 45 (Jordan 12), Cleveland 45 (Cage 8). Assists-Chicago 26 (Kukoc 5), Cleveland 20 (Brandon, Sura 5). Total fouls- Chicago 14, Cleveland 15. Technicals-Rodman. A-20,562 (20,562).

Bucks 114, Magic 101

Milwaukee

Hapless Milwaukee, which will be Chicago’s opponent Tuesday when the Bulls shoot for an NBA record 70th victory, upset Orlando to win just its fourth game in 28 tries.

Vin Baker scored 27 and Johnny Newman added 25.

Orlando (101) - Grant 10-19 0-0 21, Scott 2-7 0-0 6, O’Neal 14-23 9-17 37, Anderson 5-15 3-6 16, Hardaway 0-1 0-0 0, Shaw 5-11 1-2 13, Vaughn 0-1 0-0 0, Royal 0-0 0-0 0, Bowie 2-5 0-0 4, Thompson 2-7 0-0 4. Totals 40-89 13-25 101.

Milwaukee (114) - Baker 10-19 7-11 27, Robinson 6-13 2-2 15, Benjamin 6-9 2-4 14, Douglas 6-11 2-2 17, Newman 10-14 4-5 25, Cummings 3-6 3-4 9, Conlon 0-0 1-2 1, Keys 2-2 0-0 4, Mayberry 1-3 0-0 2, Duckworth 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 44-78 21-30 114.

Orlando 28 24 30 19 - 101

Milwaukee 32 32 22 28 - 114

3-Point goals-Orlando 8-24 (Anderson 3-7, Scott 2-5, Shaw 2-5, Grant 1-1, Hardaway 0-1, Vaughn 0-1, Bowie 0-1, Thompson 0-3), Milwaukee 5-10 (Douglas 3-5, Newman 1-1, Robinson 1-2, Baker 0-1, Mayberry 0-1). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Orlando 56 (O’Neal 16), Milwaukee 48 (Benjamin 11). Assists-Orlando 25 (Scott 6), Milwaukee 28 (Douglas 10). Total fouls-Orlando 25, Milwaukee 23. A-17,502 (18,633).

Trail Blazers 81, Grizzlies 79

Vancouver, British Columbia

Cliff Robinson scored 23 points and James Robinson added 15 as Portland eked out a win.

Portland (81) - Grant 3-13 0-0 7, C.Robinson 9-15 4-5 23, Sabonis 3-10 3-4 9, McKie 3-6 1-3 7, R.Robinson 6-11 1-2 14, Williams 1-3 0-0 2, J.Robinson 6-11 1-2 15, Dudley 2-3 0-0 4, Wingfield 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 33-73 10-16 81.

Vancouver (79) - King 5-12 0-0 12, Amaya 2-3 3-4 7, Reeves 3-9 2-4 8, Edwards 9-19 1-2 21, Anthony 1-6 0-0 3, Avent 2-7 0-0 4, Murdock 6-9 6-6 18, Moten 2-9 2-2 6, Wilkins 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 30-76 14-18 79.

Portland 27 15 21 18 - 81

Vancouver 26 23 16 14 - 79

3-Point goals-Portland 5-20 (J.Robinson 2-5, C.Robinson 1-2. R.Robinson 1-3, Grant 1-5, Wingfield 0-1, Sabonis 0-2, McKie 0-2), Vancouver 5-15 (Edwards 2-3, King 2-4, Anthony 1-4, Moten 0-4). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Portland 56 (Sabonis 13), Vancouver 40 (Avent 9). Assists-Portland 18 (McKie 6), Vancouver 29 (Anthony 7). Total fouls-Portland 14, Vancouver 17. Technical- C.Robinson. A-16,522 (19,193).

Pistons 105, Celtics 96, (OT)

Auburn Hills, Mich.

Grant Hill had 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, helping Detroit clinch its first playoff spot since 1991-92 with the overtime victory.

Boston (96) - Ellison 3-10 2-4 8, Fox 2-10 0-2 4, Lister 0-1 2-2 2, Wesley 10-19 0-1 24, Minor 4-10 1-2 9, Brown 4-12 0-0 10, Day 5-14 4-4 15, Barros 9-16 1-1 22, Burrough 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 37-93 12-18 96.

Detroit (105) - Hill 6-20 4-5 16, Thorpe 7-11 6-10 20, West 1-7 2-2 4, Houston 11-21 3-5 27, Dumars 8-15 5-7 23, Mills 0-1 0-0 0, Reid 0-1 0-0 0, Hunter 2-3 0-0 4, Curry 3-6 0-0 8, Ratliff 1-2 1-2 3. Totals 39-87 21-31 105.

Boston 22 27 14 28 5 - 96

Detroit 22 22 21 26 14 - 105

3-Point goals-Boston 10-23 (Wesley 4-5, Barros 3-7, Brown 2-6, Day 1-3, Fox 0-2), Detroit 6-13 (Dumars 2-3, Houston 2-4, Curry 2-5, Mills 0-1). Fouled out-Fox. Rebounds-Boston 57 (Ellison 18), Detroit 63 (Thorpe 17). Assists-Boston 13 (Fox, Wesley, Brown 3), Detroit 17 (Hill 10). Total fouls-Boston 29, Detroit 24. Technical-Boston illegal defense. A-16,522 (21,454).

Hornets 94, 76ers 78

Philadelphia

Charlotte moved into a tie with idle Miami for the eighth playoff spot in the East by pulling away in the fourth quarter for the victory.

Charlotte (94) - Johnson 7-13 3-3 18, Geiger 4-6 2-2 10, Parish 2-3 2-4 6, Rice 7-16 2-2 19, Anderson 5-14 1-1 14, Curry 5-15 0-0 10, Addison 4-7 0-0 8, Goldwire 4-7 0-0 9, Myers 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 38-81 10-12 94.

Philadelphia (78) - Alston 6-11 2-4 14, Weatherspoon 8-18 4-4 20, Pinckney 2-5 2-2 6, Maxwell 4-19 0-0 10, Walters 4-4 2-2 11, Ruffin 4-12 0-0 9, Massenburg 4-6 0-0 8. Totals 32-75 10-12 78.

Charlotte 27 25 18 24 - 94

Philadelphia 27 16 21 14 - 78

3-Point goals-Charlotte 8-24 (Rice 3-5, Anderson 3-8, Johnson 1-2, Goldwire 1-3, Curry 0-6), Philadelphia 4-15 (Maxwell 2-9, Walters 1-1, Ruffin 1-5). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Charlotte 47 (Curry 11), Philadelphia 43 (Pinckney 14). Assists-Charlotte 25 (Anderson 6), Philadelphia 23 (Walters 6). Total fouls-Charlotte 14, Philadelphia 16. Technicals-Anderson, Philadelphia coach Lucas. A-10,079 (18,168).

Hawks 99, Nets 90

East Rutherford, N.J.

Grant Long had 23 points and 14 rebounds and Stacey Augmon and Mookie Blaylock scored 21 apiece as Atlanta handed New Jersey its sixth straight loss.

Atlanta (99) - Augmon 8-10 5-5 21, Long 7-14 6-7 23, Laettner 5-10 6-9 16, Smith 2-9 5-5 11, Blaylock 6-13 6-6 21, Henderson 1-5 0-2 2, Ehlo 1-2 3-5 5, Jordan 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 30-64 31-39 99.

New Jersey (90) - Brown 7-13 0-0 14, Gilliam 8-21 3-3 19, Bradley 7-17 3-4 17, Reeves 1-6 2-2 5, Childs 5-14 2-2 14, Williams 1-5 5-7 7, Fleming 4-9 5-9 13, Mahorn 0-3 1-2 1. Totals 33-88 21-29 90.

Atlanta 30 23 23 23 - 99

New Jersey 15 26 22 27 - 90

3-Point goals-Atlanta 8-22 (Long 3-5, Blaylock 3-9, Smith 2-7, Ehlo 0-1), New Jersey 3-11 (Childs 2-6, Reeves 1-4, Fleming 0-1). Fouled out-Laettner, Henderson, Bradley. Rebounds-Atlanta 52 (Long 14), New Jersey 53 (Williams 11). Assists-Atlanta 17 (Augmon, Laettner 4), New Jersey 16 (Childs 8). Total fouls-Atlanta 26, New Jersey 30. Technicals-Atlanta delay of game, New Jersey illegal defense. A-17,762 (20,029).

Nuggets 98, Timberwolves 91

Minneapolis

Antonio McDyess scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half and Denver kept its playoff hopes alive with the victory.

Denver (98) - L.Ellis 2-5 1-4 5, McDyess 9-18 3-4 21, Hammonds 5-7 2-4 12, Stith 4-9 4-5 12, Rose 5-11 5-6 15, D.Ellis 7-13 0-0 15, MacLean 5-10 6-8 16, Fish 1-1 0-0 2, Overton 0-2 0-0 0, Grant 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 38-76 21-31 98.

Minnesota (91) - Garnett 6-12 5-6 17, Mitchell 7-10 3-4 17, Lang 4-12 2-2 10, West 0-6 2-2 2, Webb 3-11 4-4 11, Porter 7-15 7-10 23, Allen 2-4 0-0 5, Riley 1-3 2-2 4, Davis 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 31-76 25-30 91.

Denver 27 14 32 25 - 98

Minnesota 26 20 20 25 - 91

3-Point goals-Denver 1-5 (D.Ellis 1-4, Stith 0-1), Minnesota 4-10 (Porter 2-6, Webb 1-1, Allen 1-1, Mitchell 0-1, West 0-1). Fouled out-Mitchell. Rebounds-Denver 53 (McDyess 12), Minnesota 45 (Lang 8). Assists-Denver 29 (Rose 16), Minnesota 21 (Porter 9). Total fouls-Denver 27, Minnesota 27. Technicals-Minnesota coach Saunders. A-18,717 (19,006).

Bullets 110, Raptors 97

Landover, Md.

Juwan Howard scored 29 points and Calbert Cheaney added 22 as Washington won its season-high seventh consecutive game and remained in the hunt for the playoffs.

Toronto (97) - Murray 9-21 3-4 24, Miller 4-7 3-6 11, Earl 8-19 10-11 26, Christie 4-12 4-4 13, Robertson 3-11 0-0 6, King 3-9 0-0 6, O’Sullivan 1-4 3-3 5, Lewis 3-5 0-0 6, Esposito 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 35-88 23-28 97.

Washington (110) - Cheaney 10-21 2-2 22, Howard 12-19 5-7 29, McIlvaine 3-3 0-0 6, Eackles 1-8 0-0 3, Price 5-14 0-0 13, McCann 3-5 0-0 6, Whitney 3-5 2-2 9, Legler 7-11 3-3 20, Thornton 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 45-89 12-14 110.

Toronto 23 31 25 18 - 97

Washington 30 31 26 23 - 110

3-Point goals-Toronto 4-15 (Murray 3-9, Christie 1-3, King 0-1, Robertson 0-2), Washington 8-18 (Legler 3-5, Price 3-6, Whitney 1-1, Eackles 1-3, Cheaney 0-3). Fouled out- None. Rebounds-Toronto 59 (Miller 17), Washington 45 (Howard 12). Assists-Toronto 14 (Miller 5), Washington 20 (Whitney 7). Total fouls-Toronto 19, Washington 22. Technicals-Price. A-18,756 (18,756).

Kings 101, Clippers 96

Sacramento, Calif.

Mitch Richmond scored 26 of his 30 points in the second half as Sacramento maintained its 1 game lead in the race for the final playoff spot in the West.

L.A. Clippers (96) - Rogers 7-15 1-2 16, Vaught 8-14 2-2 18, Harvey 1-4 0-3 2, Barry 4-8 8-10 17, Richardson 3-8 0-1 6, Murray 4-6 0-0 10, Sealy 3-8 2-3 9, Dehere 5-8 6-9 16, Outlaw 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 36-72 19-30 96.

Sacramento (101) - Grant 5-13 3-4 13, Polynice 7-14 4-6 18, Causwell 3-5 0-0 6, Richmond 9-19 9-11 30, Edney 5-10 2-2 12, Owens 1-4 2-2 4, Smith 1-2 2-4 4, Marciulionis 2-5 1-2 6, Williamson 1-2 0-0 2, Hurley 0-2 0-0 0, Simmons 0-3 6-10 6. Totals 34-79 29-41 101.

L.A. Clippers 16 32 19 29 - 96

Sacramento 21 19 32 29 - 101

3-Point goals-Los Angeles 5-10 (Murray 2-2, Rogers 1-3, Barry 1-2, Sealy 1-2, Dehere 0-1), Sacramento 4-12 (Richmond 3-9, Marciulionis 1-2, Edney 0-1). Fouled out- Sealy, Causwell, Edney. Rebounds-Los Angeles 44 (Vaught 10), Sacramento 60 (Polynice 18). Assists-Los Angeles 19 (Dehere 8), Sacramento 22 (Edney 10). Total fouls-Los Angeles 29, Sacramento 30. Technicals-Dehere, Smith, Causwell, Sacramento illegal defense. Flagrant fouls- Polynice. A-17,317 (17,317).

Warriors 93, Jazz 82

Oakland, Calif.

Latrell Sprewell had 30 points and Golden State used a 10-point run late in the third period to defeat Utah.

Utah (82) - Benoit 4-14 0-0 8, Malone 7-13 5-11 19, Spencer 1-3 0-0 2, Hornacek 3-9 3-3 10, Stockton 2-6 1-1 7, Eisley 0-0 0-0 0, Ostertag 0-1 0-0 0, Foster 5-8 0-0 10, Keefe 0-3 0-0 0, Carr 10-10 0-0 20, Morris 3-9 0-0 6. Totals 35-76 9-15 82.

Golden State (93) - Kersey 6-16 3-5 15, Smith 8-14 0-1 16, Willis 2-7 0-2 4, Armstrong 3-8 5-8 13, Sprewell 12-20 3-5 30, DeClercq 3-3 0-0 6, Coles 4-11 0-0 9, Rozier 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 38-79 11-21 93.

Utah 20 25 17 20 - 82

Golden State 23 19 27 24 - 93

3-Point goals-Utah 3-15 (Stockton 2-3, Hornacek 1-5, Morris 0-4, Benoit 0-2, Malone 0-1), Golden State 6-11 (Sprewell 3-5, Armstrong 2-2, Coles 1-4). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Utah 43 (Malone 11), Golden State 55 (Kersey, Smith 13). Assists-Utah 28 (Stockton 14), Golden State 24 (Sprewell 8). Total fouls-Utah 21, Golden State 16. Technicals-Golden State illegal defense 2. A-15,025 (15,025).