Big Jordan Moments Bail Out the Bulls

Michael Jordan rescued the Chicago Bulls again Monday night.

He made a three-point shot to force overtime, made a tying jumper in the first overtime and scored three of Chicago’s final four points in the second overtime as the Bulls outlasted the San Antonio Spurs, 87-83, at Chicago.

Jordan, only 12 for 39 shooting, finished with 29 points and 13 rebounds. Dennis Rodman had 22 rebounds for the Bulls.

“It seemed like the only shots I could make were when someone was in my face. I kind of stunk it up in the first half. I didn’t particularly play the game well,” Jordan said.

San Antonio’s David Robinson scored 21 points with 12 rebounds and rookie Tim Duncan had 19 points and matched Rodman with 22 rebounds.

Jordan’s jumper with 31 seconds left in the second overtime gave the Bulls an 85-82 lead and his free throw with 11.5 seconds left made it a four-point game. San Antonio’s Jaren Jackson and Chicago’s Joe Kleine traded free throws in the closing seconds.

Chicago led by four in the second overtime but Robinson dunked, and Rodman drew a technical foul for lowering his shoulder into his former teammate on the play. Jackson’s free throw cut the lead to one with 2:14 remaining.

The Spurs had a chance for the lead but Jordan made a steal and Rodman and Ron Harper grabbed offensive rebounds as the Bulls kept the ball before Jordan scored again for an 85-82 lead.

Charlotte 112, Miami 99--Glen Rice scored 28 points at Miami as the Hornets won their first game of the season.

The Hornets, who lost their first two games, also got 20 points from David Wesley and 16 points apiece from Matt Geiger and Dell Curry.

Rice, the NBA’s third-leading scorer last season with a 26.8 average, scored a total of only 21 points in his first two games this season. But he broke out of his slump against his former team, going 11 for 17 from the field and grabbing eight rebounds.

“Every time I get a chance to come back to Miami it’s always a homecoming game for me,” said Rice, who played six seasons for the Heat and is the franchise’s career scoring leader.

Washington 90, Utah 86--Chris Webber scored 26 points and Rod Strickland had 17 points and nine assists as the Wizards ended the 14-game home winning streak of the Jazz.

Karl Malone led the Jazz with 21 points, but last year’s most valuable player missed three jumpers late in the game as Washington survived a Utah rally.

Malone tied the game at 78 by hitting two free throws with 3:22 left, but Strickland and Calbert Cheaney hit clutch jumpers down the stretch to seal the victory.

The Jazz continued to have problems at point guard in John Stockton’s absence. Howard Eisley spent the game in foul trouble, and rookie Jacque Vaughn played most of the fourth quarter.

Notes

Isaiah Rider followed a two-game NBA suspension by missing the Portland Trail Blazers’ practice Monday. Team officials didn’t know why Rider didn’t show up. He will be fined but could be back in uniform tonight for Portland’s game against Minnesota. . . . The Dallas Mavericks signed Australian center Chris Anstey, the 18th overall pick in last summer’s draft, to a three-year contract. The seven-foot center was originally drafted by Portland, which sent him and monetary compensation to Dallas for Kelvin Cato, the 15th pick.