NBA ROUNDUP : Jordan Hits 69, Enough for Bulls to Get Victory

Michael Jordan scored 69 points, the ninth highest total in NBA history, to lead Chicago past the Cleveland Cavaliers, 117-113, in overtime Wednesday night, putting the Bulls in the playoffs.

“This would have to be my greatest game,” Jordan said. “When I scored 63 against Boston, we lost. It sure feels a lot better when you score a lot of points and win the game.”

It was the fourth time Jordan has scored more than 60 points. His previous career high was 63 against Boston in the 1986 playoffs. He also scored 61 twice in 1987.

Jordan made 23 of 37 shots and 21 of 23 free throws. He also had a career-high 18 rebounds, six assists and four steals.

Jordan’s point total was the second highest by a guard in NBA history. Denver’s David Thompson scored 73 against Detroit in 1978.

The victory was the eighth in 10 games for the Bulls, who tied a club record by winning their seventh consecutive game on the road.

Mark Price scored 31 points for the Cavaliers.

Cleveland’s Craig Ehlo sank a three-pointer with 11 seconds left to tie the score, 105-105.

In overtime, a jump shot by Jordan and two free throws by Bill Cartwright put the Bulls ahead to stay, 109-105.

Philadelphia 122, Boston 104--Charles Barkley scored 22 points at Philadelphia and the 76ers won their fifth consecutive game to open a three-game lead over the second-place Celtics in the Atlantic Division.

Philadelphia held Larry Bird to 15 points and Kevin McHale to nine. Robert Parish tried to pick up the slack for Boston with 25 points.

Hersey Hawkins and Ron Anderson each scored 21 points for Philadelphia.

New Jersey 106, New York 101--The Nets shut down Patrick Ewing and ended an 11-game losing streak with a victory over the Knicks at East Rutherford, N.J.

Ewing scored 17 points, two in the first half, ending his streak of 28 consecutive 20-point games.

Chris Morris had 24 points and 15 rebounds for New Jersey, Purvis Short added 23 points and Dennis Hopson had 22. Wilkins scored 24 points for the Knicks.

Detroit 106, Charlotte 97--James Edwards scored 22 points and Vinnie Johnson had 20 as the Pistons ended a three-game losing streak by beating the Hornets at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Johnson was starting in place of Joe Dumars, who is out four weeks because of a broken left hand. Mark Aguirre added 18 points for Detroit, which won its 14th consecutive home game and defeated Charlotte for the sixth time without a defeat.

Minnesota 93, Sacramento 88--Tony Campbell scored 32 points and sparked a late 15-4 run as the Timberwolves rallied to beat the Kings at Minneapolis.

The Timberwolves tied the score, 84-84, with 2:48 left on a 20-foot jump shot by Pooh Richardson, then took the lead for good when Sacramento’s Wayman Tisdale was called for goaltending on Campbell’s shot with 2:09 left.

Miami 109, Orlando 104--Kevin Edwards had 25 points and Sherman Douglas scored 11 of his 18 in the final five minutes of the Heat’s victory over the Magic at Orlando.

The second consecutive win by Miami gave the Heat 17 victories, two more that it had a year ago in its first season.

Washington 113, Denver 99--Bernard King and Jeff Malone scored 26 points each as the Bullets turned back the Nuggets at Landover, Md.

The Bullets scored 18 consecutive points to build a 56-40 halftime lead.