NBA ROUNDUP : Jordan’s 30-Footer at Buzzer Beats Pistons

Michael Jordan’s buzzer-beating basket from seven feet behind the three-point line gave the Chicago Bulls a 98-96 overtime victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night at Chicago.

Joe Dumars’ 18-footer with four seconds left gave the Pistons a 96-95 lead. But after a timeout, Scottie Pippen inbounded the ball to Bill Cartwright, and he passed to Jordan, who finished with 37 points when his 30-footer went in as time expired.

“You either make it or you miss it,” Jordan said. “It’s not the end of the world. It’s still early in the season. But I have confidence in my shot.”

What impressed Detroit Coach Ron Rothstein even more was the way Jordan shook off a double-team and got open for the pass.

“He made a great move to catch the ball,” Rothstein said. “We should have done more to prevent the catch.”

Jordan said it was the same move he tried at the end of regulation, but missed.

But the second time, with Dumars one of the defenders, Jordan said: “He thought I was going to the left like last time, but I went right, had a clear dribble and then made it.”

Isiah Thomas scored 32 points for Detroit and Dumars added 22. B.J. Armstrong had 18 points and Pippen 16 for Chicago (3-1).

The lead changed hands five times in the last 37 seconds of overtime.

Jordan’s free throw gave the Bulls a 93-92 lead, but Orlando Woolridge was fouled by Pippen with 25 seconds left and made both free throws to give Detroit a 94-93 lead.

Jordan sank two free throws with 11 seconds left, putting the Bulls back in front before Dumars’ basket.

Indiana 120, Philadelphia 114--Detlef Schrempf scored 22 of his 32 points in the first half at Indianapolis, and Reggie Miller finished with 28 points as the Pacers won for the first time this season.

The Pacers trailed, 71-65, at halftime despite Schrempf, who finished with 13 rebounds and also made 16 of 17 free throws in the game. The 76ers still led, 75-67, with 10:29 left in the third quarter before Indiana scored 17 of the next 20 points, including seven by Miller, who had 19 in the second half.

The Pacers had their best shooting night of the season, 58.4%, and also topped the 100-point mark for the first time as they successfully ran with the up-tempo 76ers.

Schrempf said the Pacers’ problem in the first half was trying to go too fast.

“It was almost like summer league, up and down the floor and not much defense,” he said.

“Our offense was going, but that isn’t what this team is all about,” Miller said. “In the third quarter, we were determined to come out and generate some offense with our defense.”

Boston 109, Charlotte 99--Xavier McDaniel scored 25 points and Kevin Gamble had 23 as the Celtics withstood the Hornets’ fourth-quarter charge at Charlotte.

The Hornets, close to signing first-round pick Alonzo Mourning, were led by Johnny Newman with 24 points, Kendall Gill with 23 and Larry Johnson with 15 points and 15 rebounds.

“Kevin Gamble definitely gave us a big lift,” Boston Coach Chris Ford said. “Joe Kleine also did a good job. I thought everyone played with a lot of energy.”

Houston 101, Atlanta 82--Vernon Maxwell scored 24 of his 30 points in the second half and fueled a late fourth-quarter surge, leading the Rockets at Houston.

Maxwell scored seven points during a 9-0 run that extended the Rockets’ 83-77 lead to 92-77. It was the first victory of the season for Houston.

Hakeem Olajuwon had 26 points and 17 rebounds, and rookie Robert Horry scored 14 points for the Rockets.

“What a game for Max,” Coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. “He had a couple of low periods in the first half, but I stuck with him in the second half and he really came through.”

Milwaukee 124, Dallas 116--Blue Edwards led a third-quarter rally with 14 of his 31 points as the Bucks kept the Mavericks winless in the game at Dallas.