NBA ROUNDUP : Bulls Still Beating on Pistons

It was what Chicago vs. Detroit is all about. It was Michael Jordan soaring and scoring. It was flying bodies, flagrant fouls and noise. Playoff intensity in January.

And when it was over, the Bulls had continued their dominance over Detroit when Jordan scored seven of his 34 points in the last 2:22 for an 87-85 victory at Auburn Hills, Mich., Sunday.

Chicago extended its winning streak to nine games and has defeated the Pistons seven consecutive times, including a four-game sweep last spring in the Eastern Conference finals. The loss ended Detroit’s winning streak at five games.

Scottie Pippen scored 17 points for Chicago and John Paxson added 15.

Orlando Woolridge, who has helped Detroit win 13 of 17 since joining the starting lineup, scored 18 points for the Pistons.

The game appeared to turn midway in the fourth quarter when Dennis Rodman, who had 17 rebounds and 11 points for Detroit, was called for flagrantly fouling Cliff Levingston.

Levingston’s two free throws cut the Pistons’ lead to 75-70, and a basket by Pippen narrowed the gap to 75-72 with 5:24 remaining.

Detroit led, 82-78, on a basket by Mark Aguirre with 2:38 remaining. But the Pistons went more than two minutes before scoring again.

Jordan made a basket and a free throw, then a basket by Pippen put the Bulls ahead, 83-82, with 1:26 left. Moments later, Jordan picked off Thomas’ pass intended for Joe Dumars and was fouled by Thomas with 1:09 remaining.

Jordan made both free throws, then added two more to give Chicago an 87-84 lead with 16 seconds left.

Boston 98, San Antonio 89--Robert Parish scored 30 points, including 11 during a 37-point third quarter, as the Celtics rallied from a sluggish first half at Boston.

Boston, again playing without injured Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, also got 24 points from Reggie Lewis and 22 from Kevin Gamble, and John Bagley directed the third-period outburst with five assists and five of his seven points.

Parish, who returned from a two-game absence because of a twisted ankle and went over the 20,000-point career mark as Boston defeated Philadelphia on Friday night, outdueled the Spurs’ David Robinson, who scored 21 points.

Milwaukee 108, Orlando 98--Moses Malone and Dale Ellis scored 19 points each at Milwaukee as the Bucks overcame a five-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

Ellis had nine points during the fourth quarter and Malone six as the Bucks handed the Magic their 21st loss in 23 games and dropped their record to 8-29. Terry Catledge had 22 points for the Magic and Scott Skiles scored 20.

Orlando led, 76-71, after three quarters, but the Bucks regained the lead on a basket and two free throws by Jeff Grayer and a jump shot by Ellis. The short spurt made the score 84-80.

Atlanta 119, Denver 93--Kevin Willis scored 15 of his 25 points during the first quarter at Denver as the Hawks raced to a 20-point lead and breezed to the victory.

The Hawks were 14 for 20 from the field during the first quarter as they used a 32-8 run to take a 40-20 lead.

The Nuggets shot only 39.8% and did not seriously threaten, getting no closer than 62-48 early in the third quarter. The Hawks, who shot 54.4% for the game, led by as many as 30 points, 117-87, with 1:32 remaining.