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Chicago Earns Edge At Home

From Wire Reports

Michael Jordan scored 30 points and Scottie Pippen 28 as the Chicago Bulls clinched homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs with a 128-102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night in Chicago.

Allen Iverson had a career-high 44 points for the 76ers. The rookie’s previous best of 37 also came against the Bulls, but Chicago has beaten Philadelphia 15 straight times.

Ron Harper added a season-high 22 points for the Bulls, who have won 31 straight home games. They’re 38-1 at the United Center and can tie the NBA record for best home mark by beating Toronto and New York.

Elsewhere on the courts

P.J. Brown had 21 points and 13 rebounds and Alonzo Mourning added 21 points as the Miami Heat beat the Detroit Pistons 94-88 in a crucial game for playoff position.

The loss dropped Detroit into a tie with Atlanta for the fourth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Miami increased its Atlantic Division lead to four games over idle New York.

Glen Rice scored 42 points and Charlotte overcame a 19-point deficit to beat Cleveland 110-105 in overtime at Cleveland.

The Cavaliers fell one game behind Washington in the battle for the eighth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. The Hornets, who have won four straight, are in sixth place in the East.

Utah won its 13th straight game as Karl Malone scored 26 points in a 116-93 romp past San Antonio.

John Stockton and Jeff Hornacek each had 19 points as the Jazz moved 6-1/2 games in front of Seattle for the top record in the Western Conference.

Shaq returning

Shaquille O’Neal went through his first full practice with the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday since injuring his left knee on Feb. 12. It appears he’ll return to action either Friday night or Sunday afternoon.

O’Neal, who signed a seven-year, $120 million free-agent contract with the Lakers last summer, has missed 26 games.

Hill saluted

Detroit Pistons forward Grant Hill was named the NBA player of the week after averaging 29.3 points, 13.7 rebounds and 9.3 assists.

Malone in draft

Gordon Malone, who averaged 11.6 points and 7.6 rebounds in a two-year career at West Virginia, will skip his final season of eligibility and enter the NBA draft.