Bulls Get the Inside Track Against 76ers : NBA playoffs: Chicago comes back from 16-point deficit to win Game 2 of Eastern Conference semifinals, 101-96.

Michael Jordan comes down the lane, Rick Mahorn decks him. Minor scuffle follows.

It’s Philadelphia’s NBA version of the Broad Street Bullies.

But for all the hype of their physical play inside, the Philadelphia 76ers took one on the chin Wednesday night, losing a 16-point lead and the game to the Chicago Bulls, 101-96, at Chicago Stadium before 18,676.

The Bulls, who gave the 76ers a chance to win in both games, now have a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series. Game 3 is Friday at Philadelphia, where the 76ers won both regular-season meetings.

That it would happen this way, Chicago’s inside game defeating a Philadelphia team that has plenty of muscle but little quickness, makes it all the more unsettling for the 76ers.

“Because they knew they had the momentum, it certainly has to stay with them,” said Chicago’s Jordan, who scored 45 points, 26 in the second half and 15 in the third quarter when the Bulls cut the lead. “I’m pretty sure they’ll think about it, when they look at the films, and they’ll certainly regret what happened.”

They might remember it for a while. The 76ers had a 54-38 lead late in the second quarter and a 57-46 lead at the start of the third quarter. But they were caught at 77. They tried to make an impression in the process, but even that failed.

The Bulls were having too much success inside to be deterred when Mahorn crunched Jordan with 0.9 seconds left in the third quarter.

“He certainly didn’t go for the ball,” Jordan said. “He went straight for the body. I’d been expecting something like that all game.”

Instead, he got it after Chicago had scored two consecutive baskets inside, coming on Will Perdue’s rebound layin and Jordan’s layup. When Jordan came down the left side of the lane the next time, Mahorn grounded him.

Stacey King, the Bulls’ 6-foot-11 rookie, stepped in. Mahorn pushed him, drawing a technical. Jordan made that, cutting the Philadelphia lead to 77-76. When he connected on both free throws from the original foul, Chicago led for the first time since the first quarter, 78-77.

The inside job continued in the fourth quarter, with added insult. King scored on a short hook. Then, when B.J. Armstrong drove through the middle for a layup 1:14 into the period, that said it all.

“We went strictly inside,” said Jordan, who made 18 of 36 shots. “We were not going to let what Mahorn did rattle us. We didn’t jump out of our identity.”

Armstrong’s basket capped an 11-0 run by the Bulls, giving them an 82-77 lead. Each point, including the Mahorn technical indirectly, was generated from within the paint.

“It was one of those games where we took what they gave us,” said Chicago forward Scottie Pippen, who had 16 points and nine rebounds. “It was like they (the 76ers) were playing like they were in the driver’s seat the whole way. We sort of caught them back on their heels.”

Added Philadelphia Coach Jim Lynam: “We had many more individual breakdowns (on defense) in the second half than the first half. Maybe as much of a factor was our not scoring as much in the second half, so we weren’t able to get into the flow of a transition game.”

Indeed, it had been easier until then. But then, the 76ers were suddenly down. Charles Barkley was being controlled by constant Chicago double-teaming, forcing him to pass back out to teammates.

The 76ers were within 97-96 after Hersey Hawkins made two free throws with 1:20 remaining.

And then?

Scoreless.

Barkley, who came in averaging 26.3 points in the first six playoff games, had 16 this time. Two came in the second half.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do about that,” he said of getting help against the Chicago double-teaming.

Have teammates make their outside shots, someone suggested.

“That would help.”

The 76ers were at 55.7% for the game, but only 39% (seven of 18) in the final quarter. Hawkins, who finished with a team-high 23, scored 11 of the 76ers’ 19 points in that time.