Jordan Reaches Milestone

First, Michael Jordan became the NBA’s No. 7 scorer. Then, he wondered where he’d be ranked had he not given up basketball for 1-1/2 years and had he not lost almost the entire 1985-86 season to injury.

Jordan put in 31 points Monday night - giving him 26,277 in his career, 19 more than injured San Antonio star Dominique Wilkins - as the Bulls rolled to a 108-90 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in Chicago.

“I feel old. I feel like gradually some of the things I’ve done over the years are starting to add up,” said Jordan, who turned 34 last month. “It’s another accolade I feel proud about. I haven’t focused in on it yet.

“The scary part about it is: What happens if I hadn’t retired for a year and a half and hadn’t been hurt in my second year?”

Averaging 30.8 points as he guns for an unprecedented ninth scoring title, Jordan is on pace to break into the all-time top five by season’s end. He’s 118 points behind John Havlicek and 433 behind Oscar Robertson. Jordan’s career scoring average of 31.9 is the league’s best ever.

Around the league

Karl Malone matched his season high with 41 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter, as Utah held off Golden State 111-104 at San Jose, Calif., for its 11th victory in 13 games.

The Bulls put Toni Kukoc on the injured list, and his foot problem could hamper him through the rest of the season and the playoffs.

Doctors say Kukoc needs at least two months of rest - something he won’t get until the summer - to clear up tendinitis in his right foot. For now, the Bulls say Kukoc will be sidelined for days instead of weeks.