Red-Hot Jordan Nets 44 More
After struggling to find his shot and get enough help from his teammates, Michael Jordan has found both and is again looking like his old, unstoppable self.
Jordan scored 44 points - breaking 40 for the third time in four games - and the Chicago Bulls survived a 42-point game from Glenn Robinson to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 114-100 Friday night.
“I feel like I’m in great shape and am starting to get myself into a good playing rhythm,” said Jordan, who is averaging 41.3 points on 57 percent shooting the last four games compared to 26.6 points and 42 percent the first 27 games.
“And we’re starting to play well as a unit, which gives me some confidence.”
Friday, the NBA’s nine-time scoring leader got plenty of help from Luc Longley, who had a career-high 24 points. Toni Kukoc added 16.
Dennis Rodman energized the crowd with two late 3-pointers to go with 21 rebounds as the Bulls had their highest-scoring game this season and won for the 12th straight time at home.
Terrell Brandon had 24 points and 13 assists, but still couldn’t keep the Bucks from losing to the Bulls for the 10th straight time.
The Bucks trailed only 72-71 late in the third quarter before being outscored 13-6 by Jordan.
Jordan made his first nine shots and finished 15 of 22 from the floor.
“Early on, we were searching to find our identity. Teams had focused so much on me,” Jordan said.
Other games
Jaren Jackson scored a career-high 21 points to lead host San Antonio past Portland 85-69, as the Trail Blazers managed the lowest point total in franchise history.
San Antonio’s victory ended the Trail Blazers’ four-game winning streak. Portland finished one point shy of its old franchise record set twice in 1996.
Four of Jackson’s baskets were 3-pointers, and he held Isaiah Rider to 1-for-10 shooting.
The Washington Wizards lost for the first time at their new arena - they’d won their first eight there - as Rik Smits scored 22 points and Reggie Miller had 16 for the Indiana Pacers in a 99-81 victory.
Washington coach Bernie Bickerstaff was deprived of his 300th career victory.
In Charlotte, N.C., Glen Rice tormented his former team with a season-high 42 points to lift the Hornets to a 99-88 overtime victory over Miami.
Rice’s 3-pointer at the horn sent the game into overtime. He broke the 40-point mark for the eighth time with the Hornets.
Free throws
Phoenix Suns assistant coach Donn Nelson resigned and agreed to become his father’s successor as head coach of the Dallas Mavericks in the 2000-01 season. Nelson Jr. will be Dallas’ scouting director the rest of this season and an assistant coach the next two years… . Tony Dumas, sidelined for 28 games while recovering from knee surgery, was activated by the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs placed guard Mitchell Butler on the injured list. He’ll miss the rest of the season after having surgery to remove a disc from his neck.
Former Dallas Mavericks star Mark Aguirre (1981-89) has returned to the club as a scout. He worked as the Mavericks’ director of player development and scouting last season… . The Washington Wizards placed center Lorenzo Williams on the injured list in order to rest him after he underwent an MRI on his chronically sore left knee, and activated guard Tim Legler.