NBA ROUNDUP : Something Big Is Missing in Bulls’ Loss to Suns

It was bad enough the Chicago Bulls were playing their sixth game on a nine-night trip. They were forced to finish the ordeal without their leader, Michael Jordan.

Jordan was sitting out a one-game suspension for bumping a referee and the Bulls couldn’t cope with the high-scoring Suns Wednesday night at Phoenix.

Jeff Hornacek scored 26 points and led a late surge that carried the Suns to a 126-114 victory, their 19th in a row at home.

Craig Hodges, who replaced Jordan in the starting lineup, seemed to think the Bulls would do just fine without their star.

“He’s just one man,” Hodges said. “We just have to pick it up a bit.”

The Bulls battled back and cut a 16-point deficit to 81-80 in the third quarter.

This is the spot where Jordan proves he’s much more than “just one man.” He usually takes charge and the Bulls win. It’s why they are defending champions.

But there was no Jordan on this night, and the Bulls faded.

Five points in a row by Scottie Pippen, who had 26 points and 11 assists, cut the lead to 81-80, but Dan Majerle and Hornacek built the lead back to 96-88 after three quarters.

When the Bulls opened this trip at San Antonio Jan. 28, they were on a pace to become the first NBA team to win 70 games.

But their fourth loss in six games has all but wiped out their chances. They have a 39-9 record, still the best in the league, but they would need to go 31-3 the rest of the way to break the Lakers’ 69-13 record.

Sacramento 100, Utah 98--Apparently, the three-overtime victory over Chicago Monday night, the game in which Jordan picked up his suspension, took some fire out of the Jazz.

They wore out in the fourth quarter at Sacramento, were outscored, 33-28, and lost for the 16th time in 27 road games.

Lionel Simmons, who had made only three of 13 shots, sank a six-foot jumper with 14 seconds left to give the Kings their second consecutive victory. The Jazz had won four in a row.

Cleveland 110, Philadelphia 108--The Cavaliers’ refusal to give up paid off in a stirring overtime victory at Philadelphia.

With Charles Barkley leading the way, the 76ers built a 102-97 lead with 53 seconds remaining.

But Mark Price made two free throws to close the gap, and with time running out, Price sank a three-pointer to send the game into overtime.

Once again, the 76ers went ahead. Three times they led by a basket, the last at 108-106 halfway through the five-minute period.

No one scored again except the Cavaliers’ Larry Nance. He tied the score with a medium-range jumper, then stole a pass from Barkley and won the game on a short jumper with seven seconds left.

Nance had 26 points to lead the Cavaliers to their fourth victory in a row.

Hersey Hawkins had 31 points and Barkley had 30 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists.

Miami 126, Golden State 124--The Heat proved once again that it is good enough to beat a top-echelon team at Miami.

Glen Rice, Miami’s scoring leader, sank a tie-breaking three-pointer with 14 seconds left and finished with 33 points.

The loss, only the seventh in 22 road games for Golden State, knocked the Warriors out of first place in the Pacific Division. It was the first time that the Heat had beaten the Warriors.

The Warriors, after taking a 69-64 halftime lead, seemed to tire in the second half. They scored only 18 points in the third quarter.

Detroit 102, Milwaukee 94--Joe Dumars scored 20 of his 24 points in the second half and Dennis Rodman put on another rebounding show at Auburn Hills, Mich.

The Pistons, in extending the Bucks’ losing streak on the road to eight games, led, 43-38, at halftime and Dumars’ shooting enabled them to stay in command.

Rodman had 21 rebounds, 10 offensive. The rest of the Pistons had a total of 18 rebounds.

Seattle 95, New Jersey 85--The SuperSonics were off to a sluggish start at East Rutherford, N.J., but sharpshooting Ricky Pierce woke them up in the second quarter.

Pierce had six of his 19 points in a 14-4 spurt that put the SuperSonics in front to stay. By halftime Seattle led, 58-49.

In the second half the SuperSonics’ defense was too tough. They held the Nets to 36 points in 24 minutes and pulled up to the .500 mark (24-24).

Boston 98, Houston 85--Reggie Lewis had 22 points and 11 rebounds at Boston and the Celtics celebrated the return of guard Dee Brown.

Brown, who missed the first half of the season after knee surgery, played 11 minutes and contributed seven points.

“I was excited when I heard the crowd reaction,” Brown said. “I feel good and I’m ready to make a contribution.”

The Celtics trailed, 47-43, at halftime, but Robert Parish made two dunks in an 8-0 run in the third quarter that put Boston ahead to stay.

Orlando 109, Minnesota 102--The Magic rallied from an 87-80 deficit in the fourth quarter at Minneapolis to hand the Timberwolves their 12th loss in 13 games.

Nick Anderson had 31 points and combined with Stanley Roberts for 19 of Orlando’s last 21 points.