NBA ROUNDUP : Bulls Storm Palace, Beat Pistons

Michael Jordan scored Chicago’s final 10 points and the Bulls knocked off the Detroit Pistons, 95-93, Thursday night at Auburn Hills, Mich., for their first regular-season victory ever at the Palace.

The Bulls, who lost all six previous regular-season games at the Palace, are 2-12 in the building, including playoff games.

Chicago’s 32-14 record is its best since the 1971-72 team went 36-14.

The Pistons are 6-2 since losing Isiah Thomas with a wrist injury. Detroit is 21-3 at home and has a one-half game lead over the Bulls in the Central Division.

The Pistons led, 87-82, with 4 minutes remaining, but Scottie Pippen scored three of his 20 points, Jordan had a three-point play and added two free throws with 1:54 left for a 90-89 lead. Jordan, who had 30 points, added two free throws with 55 seconds left.

Vinnie Johnson scored for Detroit with 48 seconds left, but Jordan responded with a long jumper 11 seconds later to give Chicago a 94-91 lead.

James Edwards hit a turnaround jumper for Detroit with 28 seconds remaining and Jordan made one of two three throws with 14 seconds left. However, the Bulls then held off a furious Detroit charge when Bill Laimbeer, Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman of Detroit all missed shots at the in the final seconds.

Laimbeer had 25 points for Detroit and Mark Aguirre added 19.

Chicago’s Bill Cartwright was ejected with 6:32 left in the third quarter for swearing at officials after he fouled Laimbeer.

Boston 117, New York 101--Kevin Gamble made 12 of 14 shots and scored 24 of his career-high 32 points as the Celtics opened a 22-point halftime lead and coasted past the Knicks at New York.

Gamble, who took over the NBA lead in shooting percentage at 62.5% by making 16 of 20 shots, surpassed his previous career-high of 31.

The Knicks were six for 23 and Gamble six for seven in the first quarter as the Celtics, who never trailed, opened a 30-16 lead that increased to 60-38 at halftime.

Gerald Wilkins scored 16 points for the Knicks, who have lost seven consecutive regular-season games to the Celtics. Patrick Ewing, averaging 26.7, was held to 11 points on three-for-13 shooting.

Kevin McHale scored 18 points for Boston. Larry Bird, just returning from a back injury, did not make the trip.

Bullets 124, Nets 117--Bernard King scored 47 points, including five in a 12-3 fourth-quarter surge that carried the Bullets past the Nets at Landover, Md.

King, who learned earlier in the day that he would be a starter in Sunday’s NBA All-Star game, made 19 of 35 shots in topping the 40-point barrier for the ninth time this season.

Reggie Theus scored 33 points and Drazen Petrovic had a career-high 27 for the Nets, who lost their 12th consecutive game at the Capital Centre. New Jersey hasn’t beaten the Bullets on the road since March 1986.

With the score tied, 100-100, King made a free throw, stole the ball and scored to make it 103-100. After the Nets scored, King hit a jumper to ignite an 8-0 surge that gave the Bullets a secure 112-103 lead with 2:43 left.

Houston 96, Cleveland 92--David Wood hit a three-pointer with 19 seconds remaining and Buck Johnson added two clinching free throws with 1.1 seconds left to lift the Rockets over the Cavaliers at Richfield, Ohio.

Cleveland’s John Williams, the league’s highest-paid player, returned from a sprained left foot sustained Nov. 16. He scored four points for the Cavaliers, who got 23 from Larry Nance in losing for the 24th time in 29 games.

Johnson scored 22 points for Houston, 10-8 since losing Akeem Olajuwon to an eye injury Jan. 4.

Dallas 102, Golden State 101--Rolando Blackman made two free throws with 8.6 seconds left to give the Mavericks a victory over the Warriors at Dallas.

Derek Harper scored 30 points for Dallas, and Mitch Richmond scored 34 points for the Warriors.

San Antonio 118, Indiana 108--David Robinson had 35 points and 15 rebounds, and Sean Elliott added a career-high 30 points as Spurs downed the Pacers at San Antonio.

Detlef Schrempf scored 21 points for the Pacers.

Atlanta 127, Charlotte 114--Moses Malone came off the bench to score 25 and lead the Hawks past the Hornets for their 16th consecutive victory at Atlanta.

Rex Chapman scored 25 points for Charlotte.

Orlando 108, Minnesota 103--Scott Skiles scored 17 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter and the Magic rallied to beat the Timberwolves at Orlando for their third consecutive victory.

Otis Smith added 28 points for the Magic; Pooh Richardson scored 30 points for Minnesota.