NBA Playoffs Roundup : Jordan’s Premeditated 3-Point Play Lifts Bulls

Michael Jordan scored 44 points, including four free throws in the final seconds, as the Chicago Bulls defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 101-94, Wednesday night at Chicago to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-5 Eastern Conference playoff series.

The Bulls could advance to the next round, against New York, with a victory at Chicago Stadium Friday night. If the Cavaliers win, the final game wil be played at Richfield, Ohio, Sunday.

“Of course we can’t take them for granted Friday night,” Jordan said. “But we’re in our atmosphere, so we can control our own destiny.”

John Williams, scoring 16 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, kept the Cavaliers in contention. Cleveland pulled within 91-88 with 2:43 to play, but Jordan converted a three-point play. With 1:04 left, he stole the ball and went in for a slam dunk, making the score 96-88.

Jordan said that although he had been driving to the basket repeatedly without drawing fouls, he planned his final three-point play.

“I tried to initiate the contact and then I jumped and made the shot,” he said.

Cleveland narrowed the score to 97-94, but Jordan’s four free throws in the last 21 seconds sealed the victory.

Injuries hurt Cleveland. Mark Price has injured hamstrings and was held to two points and four assists. Craig Ehlo suffered a sprained ankle in practice and did not play.

Houston 126, Seattle 107--Sleepy Floyd scored 28 points, including 22 in the first half, as the Rockets avoided being swept by beating the SuperSonics at Houston.

Seattle has a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five first-round series, with the fourth game scheduled Friday night at Houston. A fifth game, if necessary, would be played in Seattle Sunday.

Floyd, who had six assists and set a club playoff record with three straight three-point baskets, got the Rockets off to a fast start with 10 first-quarter points. He scored 12 points in the second period.

Floyd, who shot poorly in the first two games of the series, made eight of 11 shots, including all three of his three-point attempts. Akeem Olajuwon had 19 points and 18 rebounds for Houston, and Otis Thorpe added 23 points.

“Sleepy was the key,” Rocket Coach Don Chaney said. “Akeem always has his game, but Sleepy got us running on all cylinders.”

Dale Ellis, playing despite a broken nose that resulted in him wearing a protective brace, led Seattle with 26 points, and Sedale Threatt added 17.

There were five technical fouls, four against the Sonics. Olajuwon was called for a technical with 4:03 to go in the second quarter after throwing a ball at Seattle forward Michael Cage.

Olajuwon and Cage were fined for fighting in a regular-season game in Seattle.

Alton Lister, Ellis, Xavier McDaniel and Cage were assessed technical fouls for the Sonics.

Seattle Coach Bernie Bickerstaff said the Sonics were intimidated.

“They spent the night kicking our tails and we spent the night bitching at officials,” Bickerstaff said.