NBA ROUNDUP : Shots in the Dark Power Bulls Past Pistons

Because of a lighting problem, most of the first quarter of Friday night’s battle at Chicago between the Bulls and the Detroit Pistons was played in semi-darkness.

The Pistons are sorry the bright lights went on again. Once they did, Scottie Pippen and the Bulls took charge, romping to a 117-93 victory. It was their 12th victory in a row and enabled them to post the second-best halfway record in NBA history.

Only the 1971-72 Lakers, with a 38-3 record, were better than the Bulls’ 36-5. That Laker team had a 33-game winning streak and won 69 games--the record the Bulls are trying to break.

The Bulls easily beat the Pistons for the eighth time in a row, including four in the playoffs last spring, although Michael Jordan was used sparingly during the second half. Jordan, bothered by a slightly sprained ankle, played only 30 minutes, getting 20 points and five assists.

The start was delayed 30 minutes because of a broken fuse. It was agreed to start the game in semi-darkness; the lights came on brightly with three minutes to play in the first quarter.Both teams made more than 60% of their shots before the lights took full effect.

After a quarter, the Pistons led, 26-24. But in the next 16 minutes, the Bulls, with Pippen and Jordan doing most of the scoring, outscored the Pistons, 41-22. Pippen finished with 29 points.

Jordan’s injury was not believed to be serious.

New York 114, Golden State 109--After missing three consecutive free throws in the last minute at Oakland, rookie Anthony Mason made three in a row to spoil a Warrior comeback.

The Warriors, trailing by 68-50 at halftime, went ahead, 102-99, with three minutes to play, but couldn’t hold on.

Mason’s free throw after three misses gave the Knicks a 110-109 lead with 26 seconds to play. He then made two more with 6.3 seconds to play.

Philadelphia 119, Minnesota 86--The 76ers’ romp to their fourth victory in a row was marred by an injury to Jeff Ruland.

Ruland, in his ninth game back after being sidelined for five years because of a knee problem, suffered a partial tear in his right Achilles’ tendon. It is feared that might be the final blow to a troubled career.

Armon Gilliam led the 76ers with 18 points and 17 rebounds.

Their eighth loss in a row gave the Timberwolves a 7-34 record.

Phoenix 100, Boston 93--The Suns thought they had put the Celtics away several times at Boston. But when Robert Parish, the only frontline Celtic starter able to play, sank a 13-foot turnaround jumper, the score was tied, 91-91, with two minutes to play.

A layup by Tim Perry and a three-point shot by Kevin Johnson then let the Suns end a two-game losing streak on a four-game trip that will end tonight at Washington.

The Celtics, playing without Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Dee Brown, had won four in a row.

Portland 125, Atlanta 117--The Trail Blazers overcame a 34-point performance by Dominique Wilkins to win at Portland.

The Hawks, playing their sixth game in nine nights, overcame a nine-point halftime deficit, but faded in the last minute.

After cutting the Trail Blazers’ lead to 118-117, the Hawks gave up the last seven points--five of which were by Clyde Drexler, who had 29.

New Jersey 123, Miami 117--Derrick Coleman made 14 of his first 15 shots and scored a season-high 38 points at East Rutherford, N.J., to lead the Nets to their fifth victory in a row.

The Nets have won 12 of their last 15 games to move into a four-way battle with Philadelphia, Miami and Milwaukee for the last two playoff spots in the East.

Glen Rice had 35 points for the Heat. Rony Seikaly, playing despite back spasms, added 21 points and 11 rebounds.

Cleveland 104, Indiana 102--Danny Ferry scored the last four points at Indianapolis to give the Cavaliers the victory.

After making a 20-footer with a minute left to tie the score, 102-102, Ferry scored on a rebound with eight seconds to play. Ferry, who scored 10 points in the last quarter, had 12 rebounds in 25 minutes.

San Antonio 115, Milwaukee 86--David Robinson had 23 points and keyed the Spurs’ defense at San Antonio.

The Spurs, 2-1 since Bob Bass replaced Larry Brown as coach, moved into second place in the Midwest Division, 2 1/2 games behind Utah.

The Bucks, forced to shoot from long range, were one for 16 on three-pointers.

Orlando 121, Dallas 103--Nick Anderson had his first triple-double and the Magic went on a 21-0 run during the first quarter at Orlando.

Anderson had 32 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.