NBA Roundup : Jordan Has Garden Party With 52, and Bulls Defeat Celtics, 110-104

Michael Jordan is supposed to be getting more help from his friends this season, but don’t tell the Boston Celtics.

Jordan scored 19 of his 52 points in the final period Wednesday night, and the Chicago Bulls ended a 12-game losing streak at Boston Garden with a 110-104 victory over the Celtics.

“Michael played a great game, but you shouldn’t let one person beat you and that’s what we did,” Boston’s Kevin McHale said.

The defeat also ended Boston’s 45-game home winning streak against Central Division teams.

But Jordan said he wants to see more Bulls involved in the offense.

“We have to establish offense other than myself, but I got off to a good start and my jumper started falling,” Jordan said. “Winning means more than the 52 points.”

In 42 minutes, Jordan made 18 of 33 shots, including 2 of 4 from 3-point range, and 14 of 16 free throws. He had 3 rebounds and 2 assists.

Jordan, the NBA’s most valuable player, scoring champion and defensive player of the year last season, also had 9 steals and blocked 2 shots.

Chicago, which hadn’t won in Boston since March 6, 1985, led by as many as 10 points in the first half as Jordan scored 25 points to help the Bulls take a 53-47 lead.

The Celtics, led by rookie Brian Shaw, fought back and led, 79-78, after 3 quarters, but Jordan put Chicago ahead to stay, 86-85, on a baseline jumper with just over 8 minutes left.

McHale scored 29 points for the Celtics, while Larry Bird and Shaw each had 18.

Detroit 101, Atlanta 95--Isiah Thomas and Dennis Rodman scored 4 points each in overtime, and the Pistons got past the Hawks at Auburn Hills, Mich., to remain unbeaten through 4 games.

Rodman gave the Pistons the lead for good, 97-95, on a short jumper with 1:13 left in overtime, and Thomas, who had 18 of his 20 points in the second half, added a basket and 2 free throws in the last 20 seconds.

Atlanta, which blew a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost for the first time in 4 games, got 22 points from Reggie Theus.

Golden State 113, Seattle 108--Chris Mullin scored 10 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, and the Warriors rallied at Seattle to hand the SuperSonics their first loss in 4 games.

The Warriors outscored the Sonics, 23-4, to turn a 96-87 deficit into a 110-100 lead as Mullin scored 8 points, while Seattle made only 1 of 13 shots and committed 6 turnovers.

Xavier McDaniel scored 24 points and Dale Ellis 21 for the Sonics.

Milwaukee 114, Philadelphia 103--Terry Cummings scored 31 points, and Ricky Pierce had 23 as the Bucks defeated the 76ers at Milwaukee.

Milwaukee took the lead for good, 83-80, on Paul Pressey’s 3-point play with 47 seconds left in the third quarter.

Cliff Robinson scored 26 points for Philadelphia.

New York 117, Washington 110--Patrick Ewing scored 22 of his 27 points in the first half as the Knicks downed the Bullets at Landover, Md.

Washington came within 94-89 when the Knicks missed their first 6 shots of the final quarter, but Gerald Wilkins scored to get New York going again.

Phoenix 111, Dallas 103--Eddie Johnson scored 37 points, and the Suns rallied from 23 points down to beat the Mavericks at Phoenix.

The Suns trailed, 38-15, early in the second quarter. Then Johnson reeled off 17 points before halftime to get Phoenix within 54-47. Armon Gilliam scored 11 of his 19 points as the Suns took the lead in the third period and pulled away.

Roy Tarpley had 35 points, and Rolando Blackman added 23 for Dallas.

Utah 105, Sacramento 85--Karl Malone scored 35 points and John Stockton added 23 points and 14 assists as the Jazz turned back the Kings at Salt Lake City.

Sacramento’s Rodney McCray was 0 for 15, tying the NBA record shared by 6 others. McCray has made 5 of 31 shots this season.

San Antonio 117, Miami 93--Rookie Willie Anderson scored 29 points as the Spurs beat the Heat at San Antonio.

Johnny Dawkins added 21 points and Greg Anderson 20 for the Spurs.

Pat Cummings scored 12 points for Miami.