Jordan, Rodman Nullify Hill’s Big Game

Grant Hill had a great game, but it wasn’t enough to beat the combination of Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman as the Chicago Bulls beat the Detroit Pistons, 105-96, Saturday night at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Jordan scored 34 points and Rodman grabbed 18 rebounds as the Bulls overcame a terrific all-around performance by Hill, who led the Pistons with 31 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Hill scored 20 points in the first half.

“He dictated the tempo,” Jordan said. “But we were able to focus on him a little bit in the fourth quarter and make him give up the ball . . . and move the ball around. And we clamped down on their other shooters.”

Ron Harper scored 21 points for the Bulls.

“Our game plan was to make Ron Harper shoot jump shots and he made four three-pointers,” Piston Coach Doug Collins said. “He was three for 29 for the season coming in. That’s why that team has won five championships.”

Rodman scored only eight points but he increased his career rebounding total to 10,822, moving him past Jack Sikma into 20th place on the NBA’s all-time list.

Utah 97, Atlanta 82--Karl Malone scored 20 points, and John Stockton had 19 points and 12 assists at Salt Lake City as the Jazz extended the Hawks’ losing streak to seven.

Steve Smith led the Hawks with 20 points, although his final seven came late in the fourth period with the game decided.

Atlanta shot only 38% from the field and was outscored on the fast break, 29-8.

Cleveland 95, New Jersey 81--Shawn Kemp outplayed rookie Keith Van Horn as the Cavaliers beat the Nets at Cleveland.

Kemp scored 21 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, while Van Horn, who scored 29 in New Jersey’s win over the Knicks on Friday, had 15 points on five-for-16 shooting against Cleveland.

Kemp also recorded his 1,000th career block against Van Horn.

Minnesota 109, Denver 87--Kevin Garnett got his first triple double in leading the Timberwolves at Minneapolis.

The 21-year-old, third-year player had 18 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists as Minnesota Timberwolves handed Denver its 13th straight loss.

New York 88, Orlando 84--Allan Houston drove around Gerald Wilkins and made a running bank shot over Rony Seikaly’s outstretched arm with 31.8 seconds left to deflate the Magic’s comeback at New York.

It was the Knicks’ third win in five games since losing Patrick Ewing to a season-ending wrist injury, and Ewing sat on the home bench for the first time since with his right arm in a heavy cast.

San Antonio 84, Miami 77--David Robinson and Tim Duncan pounded the Heat inside, and when Alonzo Mourning departed with a hand injury late in the third quarter, the Spurs pulled away to an easy victory at Miami.

Mourning suffered a cut in his left palm that required seven stitches. He was back on the bench with four minutes remaining but didn’t return to the game.

Robinson had 27 points and 12 rebounds, and Duncan added 22 points and 11 rebounds in a battle of division leaders.

Portland 97, Houston 95--Brian Grant rebounded his own miss and sank a five-foot jumper with eight seconds left, giving the Trail Blazers a victory over the Rockets at Houston.

The Trail Blazers had scored a franchise-low 69 points in a loss to San Antonio on Friday night.

The Rockets beat Denver in overtime on Friday night, but they couldn’t pull this one out despite 34 points by Clyde Drexler.

Boston 106, Milwaukee 99--Antoine Walker scored a season-high 32 points and had 10 rebounds at Milwaukee as the Celtics rallied for a victory, their second in two nights and their 16th of the season, surpassing last season’s win total of 15.

Walker, who had 27 points, 18 rebounds and a key late steal to preserve Boston’s win against Minnesota on Friday, scored eight points in the fourth quarter.

Glenn Robinson, who had a season-high 42 points in a loss to the Bulls at Chicago Friday, led Milwaukee with 35 points. The Bucks missed 12 free throws.

Indiana 89, Toronto 77--Rik Smits, the only Pacer starter who played in the fourth quarter, had 24 points and 13 rebounds at Indianapolis.

The Indiana bench, led by Travis Best with 11 points and Fred Hoiberg with 10, combined for 43 points and accounted for all but three of the Pacers’ points in the fourth quarter.

NBA Notes

The Detroit Pistons activated forward Rick Mahorn from the injured list before their game with Chicago. Mahorn had been on the injured list since Dec. 6 because of tendinitis in his right foot. . . . Milwaukee forward Tyrone Hill was back in the lineup after missing the game against Chicago to be with his father, who is seriously ill. . . . Celtic guard Tyus Edney, who is fighting flu, did not travel with the team. . . . Atlanta’s Mookie Blaylock, who aggravated a strained groin against the Lakers Friday night, did not play against the Jazz.