NBA ROUNDUP : Bulls Leave Knicks Behind, Stay Ahead of Pistons

Michael Jordan had 29 points and B.J. Armstrong scored eight of his 14 points in the fourth quarter as the Chicago Bulls beat the New York Knicks, 102-92, Thursday night at New York for their fourth consecutive victory.

The Bulls retained their one-game lead over the Detroit Pistons atop the Central Division, improving to 34-14--matching the franchise’s best record after 48 games set during the 1971-72 season.

The Knicks were within 94-88 with 1:20 left, but Charles Oakley and Gerald Wilkins turned the ball over the next two times down the court.

The Knicks trailed, 55-42, at halftime and used a 17-6 run in the third quarter to tie the game, 67-67. Patrick Ewing scored 10 of his 20 points during the spurt.

The Knicks took their only lead of the second half on Kiki Vandeweghe’s free throw after a technical on Chicago Coach Phil Jackson. But Jordan put Chicago ahead for good, 69-68, on a jump shot with 2:54 left in the third quarter.

Detroit 102, Milwaukee 92--Joe Dumars scored 31 points, including a three-point play with 19 seconds left that ensured the Pistons’ victory over the Bucks at Milwaukee.

Ricky Pierce’s three-point play with 2:29 left gave the Bucks their first lead, 92-91, since early in the third quarter, but Detroit scored the last 11 points.

Mark Aguirre, who finished with 19 points, erased the Bucks’ lead with a basket to put the Pistons ahead, 93-92, with 1:44 left. After John Salley blocked Jack Sikma’s shot with 39 seconds left, Dumars made his three-point play to push the Pistons’ margin to 96-92.

Phoenix 106, San Antonio 97--Tom Chambers scored 37 points and the Suns held the Spurs without a field goal for more than eight minutes in the fourth quarter to win at San Antonio.

Phoenix trailed, 82-80, with 11:45 left but went on a 19-5 run over the next seven minutes to take a 12-point lead with 4:42 left.

Boston 128, Golden State 112--Larry Bird scored 29 points and made two three-pointers during a fourth-quarter run as the Celtics defeated the Warriors at Oakland for their fifth consecutive victory.

Chris Mullin scored 35 points for Golden State.

Houston 129, Washington 117--Otis Thorpe scored 19 of his 28 points as the Rockets built a 14-point lead in the first quarter and defeated the Bullets at Houston.

Thorpe, who hit eight of nine shots in the first half, helped Houston to a 43-29 lead after 12 minutes, and the Rockets breezed to their eighth victory in 10 games.

Miami 141, Denver 112--After scoring only 78 points in a loss to Cleveland on Tuesday night, the Heat rebounced with a franchise scoring record to trounce the Nuggets at Miami.

Alec Kessler and Kevin Edwards each scored 21 points for Miami, whose previous high came in a 134-119 victory over New Jersey on Feb. 6.

Sacramento 98, Philadelphia 81--Lionel Simmons had seven of his 38 points as the Kings jumped to a 17-0 lead and coasted past the 76ers at Sacramento.

The Kings moved out of the Pacific Division cellar, half a game ahead of the Clippers.

Ralph Sampson had 15 rebounds for the Kings, who held Charles Barkley to 10 points.

Seattle 102, Orlando 90--Derrick McKey scored 21 points and the SuperSonics held the Magic to one field goal in the first eight minutes of the final quarter to pull away at Orlando.

Scott Skiles had 17 points for Orlando.