NBA ROUNDUP : Bulls Waste 19-Point Lead, Fight Back to Win

In a game filled with rough play and scuffles, the Chicago Bulls blew a 19-point lead before ending the Detroit Pistons’ six-game winning streak, 98-95, at Auburn Hills, Mich., on Monday night.

“We relaxed at the start of the second half, which was stupid on our part,” the Bulls’ Michael Jordan said. “We should have known what to expect from Detroit.”

The game, during which Scott Williams and Bill Laimbeer were ejected after a first-half fight, got increasingly physical during the fourth quarter as Dennis Rodman was called for a flagrant foul against Jordan.

After that, Piston Coach Ron Rothstein was called for two technical fouls and was ejected by referee Don Vaden. There were also double technicals against the Pistons’ Isiah Thomas and the Bulls’ John Paxson.

“When we play Detroit, it is always a war,” said Stacey King, who scored 11 of his 17 points during the fourth quarter. “They hate us, and we hate them.

“In our games, there will be some hard fouls, probably some pushing and shoving, and maybe a fight will break out.”

The loss dropped the Pistons into ninth place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind the idle Indiana Pacers. The Bulls moved within a half-game of the New York Knicks for first place in the conference.

The first half was marred by a second-quarter fight between Williams and Laimbeer after a hard foul by Laimbeer. Thomas restrained Williams as both benches emptied.

Miami 106, Milwaukee 95--The outside shooting of Glen Rice and Brian Shaw helped the Heat keep its slim playoff hopes alive at Miami.

Rice scored 25 points, making three three-pointers, while Shaw, who had an NBA record 10 three-pointers at Milwaukee on Thursday, made four and scored 16 points.

Charlotte 120, Philadelphia 101--Larry Johnson scored 34 points and Alonzo Mourning added 28 as the Hornets improved their playoff chances at Charlotte.

The Hornets, who haven’t made the playoffs since joining the league in 1988, stayed in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

Trailing through most of the first three quarters, the Hornets took control early in the fourth period with a 12-3 run that gave them a 92-81 lead with 8:10 remaining.

Utah 107, Dallas 94--Karl Malone had 27 points and 13 rebounds as the Jazz ended a three-game losing streak at Salt Lake City.

The Jazz overcame a 54-52 deficit midway through the third quarter as Jay Humphries and Jeff Malone, who finished with 17 points each, keyed a 27-13 run that gave Utah a 79-65 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Denver 107, Golden State 96--Reggie Williams scored 33 points, including 13 during a decisive third-quarter turnaround that carried the Nuggets at Oakland.

The Warriors had only six injury-free players for the second half.

The Nuggets moved within three games of the Lakers for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, while the Warriors fell 3 1/2 games behind.