NBA ROUNDUP : Fouls Don’t Slow Jordan, Bulls

Michael Jordan scored 35 points despite picking up his fourth foul early in the second half and the Chicago Bulls downed the Cleveland Cavaliers, 100-85, Thursday night at Richfield, Ohio.

The Bulls (31-5) won their seventh consecutive game in a match of the teams with the best records in the NBA. The Cavaliers (24-11) lost their second consecutive game since equaling a franchise record with 11 victories in a row.

The Bulls have won their last 12 games against Cleveland and are 16-0 this season when they hold teams under 100 points.

Jordan got his fourth foul with 9:10 left in the third quarter, but Coach Phil Jackson’s decision to leave him on the floor paid off. Jordan scored 14 points in the quarter, helping Chicago to a 75-69 lead after three quarters.

Cleveland closed to 77-75 on Terrell Brandon’s basket with 9:15 left before the Bulls pulled away with a 20-6 run--capped by six consecutive points from Jordan.

Scottie Pippen, who combined with Jordan for 26 of the Bulls’ 28 points in the third quarter, added 23 for Chicago.

John Battle scored 20 points for Cleveland.

Golden State 98, Houston 91--Tim Hardaway had 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists and Billy Owens rallied the Warriors to a win over the Rockets at Houston.

The Warriors overcame an early 17-point deficit and won for the seventh time in nine games. They are 12-5 on the road.

Trailing, 76-70, with 11:24 left, the Warriors scored 11 consecutive points--six by Owens--in a two-minute spurt. Later, Golden State got six consecutive points for an 87-81 edge with 6:17 left.

Otis Thorpe had 25 points and 20 rebounds for the Rockets.

Hakeem Olajuwon had 19 rebounds and became Houston’s all-time leading rebounder with 6,976, two more than Moses Malone.

Miami 102, Washington 94--Glen Rice had 35 points, including the clinching basket with 1:20 left, and the Heat downed the Bullets at Landover, Md.

Rice made 12 of 17 shots, including eight of 10 in the second half, as the Heat won their second consecutive game after losing four in a row and eight of nine. Rice scored 21 points in the second half and 11 in the fourth quarter.

When the Bullets closed a nine-point deficit to 93-91, Rice made a three-pointer to clinch the victory.

Rony Seikaly added 14 points and 20 rebounds for Miami.

Harvey Grant had 28 points for the Bullets and Pervis Ellison added 19 points and 14 rebounds.

Denver 101, Dallas 90--Winston Garland scored 25 points and broke open the game with three straight baskets at Dallas and the Nuggets sent the Mavericks to their 10th consecutive loss.

The victory broke an eight-game road losing streak for Denver, which has won only two of its last seven games.

Garland’s three baskets gave Denver an 92-82 lead with 3:48 left. Garland added two more baskets for an 11-point fourth quarter.

Reggie Williams scored 24 points for Denver and Derek Harper had 24 for the Mavericks.

San Antonio 125, Minnesota 111--Terry Cummings had 23 points and 11 rebounds and David Robinson added 20 points as the Spurs beat the Timberwolves at Minneapolis.

The Spurs won for the fifth time in six games and beat Minnesota for the 11th time in 12 games.

It was the 599th professional coaching victory for Larry Brown, who has spent 13 seasons in the NBA and old ABA.

Utah 116, Atlanta 111--Karl Malone scored 37 points, including 12 in a third-quarter rally that sent the Jazz past the Hawks at Salt Lake City.

John Stockton added 21 points and 19 assists and Jeff Malone scored 21 as Utah improved to 15-1 at home.

Dominique Wilkins scored 29 points for the Hawks.