Pippenless Bulls Lead The Central
When Scottie Pippen returns - yes, that’s when, not if - the Chicago Bulls will be strong favorites to win a third consecutive NBA title and sixth this decade.
Even without Pippen, who in recent days has all but rescinded his trade demand, the Bulls have been unbeatable the last two weeks.
Led by Michael Jordan’s peerless scoring and Dennis Rodman’s rabid rebounding, the Bulls (19-9) have won seven consecutive games to move back atop the Eastern Conference standings.
“These are familiar surroundings for us,” Jordan said after scoring 47 points Saturday night in the Bulls’ 97-90 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. “Until someone else is the world champion, we are the team to beat. A lot of responsibility comes with it, but we’re living up to it.”
And Pippen, the All-Star forward who in about two weeks expects to be fully recovered from foot surgery, apparently wants to join the fun.
Last month, he said he’d never play for Chicago again because general manager Jerry Krause and owner Jerry Reinsdorf don’t respect him. But Friday, Pippen said he’d return to the Bulls “if I have to.” And Saturday, he said he was “looking forward to getting back.”
“I’ve got a good relationship with my teammates. They know I’m not going to leave them hanging,” he said. “When I’m ready to go out there and play, I’ll play.”
Then Pippen laughed and said: “As long as the team is playing like this, maybe I can delay my comeback. I’m enjoying watching the games. The way they’re playing, maybe I should keep watching.”
Shaq begins practicing
Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal, sidelined by a strained abdominal muscle and a fractured wrist, is practicing with his teammates again after an absence of 5-1/2 weeks.
O’Neal went through a two-hour workout Saturday, including 30 minutes in three-on-three scrimmages. He previously was cleared for individual workouts.
No date was set for his return to action, but he is not expected to play in Tuesday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings.
On the courts
John Stockton scored 10 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, including a wide-open jumper with 2.3 seconds left that gave the visiting Utah Jazz an 89-88 win over the Vancouver Grizzlies.
Alonzo Mourning scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and Tim Hardaway had 21 points and 10 assists as the Miami Heat beat the visiting Indiana Pacers 101-90 Sunday.
At Inglewood, Calif., Antoine Walker had 28 points and 13 rebounds and Travis Knight burned his former team by scoring 11 of his 14 points in the second half as the Boston Celtics stunned the Los Angeles Lakers 108-102.
At Auburn Hills, Mich., Stephon Marbury scored 10 of his team-high 19 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 93-89 comeback victory over the Detroit Pistons.