NBA Roundup : Jordan Scores 53, Leads Chicago Past Portland, 121-117

Michael Jordan had a good night, scoring and analyzing.

Jordan scored 53 points, his high for a regular-season game, to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 121-117 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers Thursday night at Chicago.

The Bulls held the Trail Blazers, ranked second in the league in scoring, as close as you can to their 117.5-points-a-game average.

“We knew their average, and if we kept them to that we would win,” Jordan said. “But it is hard to keep them to 100.

“I like games under 100. That tells you the defense is playing well.”

Chicago is ranked second in defense, holding its opponents to 102.5 points a game coming in.

As long as Jordan is healthy, the Bulls don’t have to worry about offense. The league’s leading scorer fell three points shy of tying Chicago’s regular season scoring record of 56 points set by Chet Walker in 1972.

Jordan’s high is 62 in a playoff game against Boston last year.

The Bulls trailed, 93-88, entering the fourth quarter. Jordan, who had 40 points in three periods, put the Bulls ahead for good, 102-101, with two free throws.

The Bulls built the lead to eight points in the closing minutes and won their third game in a row, equaling their longest winning streak of the season.

Kiki Vandeweghe scored 35 points for Portland.

Houston 110, Indiana 96--Lewis Lloyd scored 21 points, and Mitchell Wiggins came off the bench to score 18 as the Rockets turned back the Pacers at Houston.

Akeem Olajuwon added 19 points and Ralph Sampson had 18 as the Rockets got their fourth victory in five games.

Wayman Tisdale sparked a third-quarter rally for the Pacers and finished with 24 points, but the Rockets allowed Indiana just four field goals in the fourth period.

Seattle 115, Golden State 108--Dale Ellis tied his career high with 35 points, and the Sonics beat the Warriors, who missed 22 free throws at Oakland.

Eric Floyd scored 23 points, and Chris Mullin had 22 for the Warriors.