NBA ROUNDUP : After Jordan Comes Alive, It’s All Over

The game at Chicago Sunday was a meeting between the teams considered most likely to play for the NBA championship in June.

But for the first 19 minutes, the Bulls and Portland Trail Blazers resembled YMCA pickup teams.

Neither could shoot, and the Trail Blazers had problems throwing the ball and catching it.

Although they went more than six minutes in the second quarter without a field goal, Chicago led only 37-33.

It was a spot for Michael Jordan.

He put on another demonstration of his superiority, and the Bulls emerged with an easy 111-91 victory.

In the last five minutes of the first half, Jordan scored, rebounded, set up teammates and stole the ball. He led an 18-7 burst that put Chicago ahead, 55-40.

And when the Trail Blazers tried to rally at the start of the second half, Jordan and Scottie Pippen outscored them, 11-2, in three minutes to make it a rout.

Chicago left the impression it will be difficult to prevent it from earning back-to-back titles.

The Bulls, who won at Portland earlier in double overtime when Jordan, playing 51 minutes, scored 41 points, needed him for only 36 minutes this time. He had 31 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

Jordan lifted the whole team. Horace Grant started stealing the ball, Will Perdue dominated the boards and Pippen played like Pippen.

“We aren’t fooled,” Jordan said. “We know the Trail Blazers can play much better. But we were surprised this one was so easy.”

Clyde Drexler had 26 points and 12 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who shot only 37.3% and fell out of first place in the Pacific Division.

Portland Coach Rick Adelman said it would be different in the playoffs.

“I’m disappointed we didn’t do better,” he said. “But in the playoffs, it’s a new and different situation.

Phoenix 114, Utah 109--Two teams that had to be heartened by Portland’s performance, staged a bitter battle at Phoenix.

The Suns, led by the threesome of Jeff Hornacek, Kevin Johnson and Dan Majerle, surged from behind in the fourth quarter to win for the 24th time in their last 25 home games. The Jazz has lost 12 in a row at Phoenix.

The Jazz led, 78-76, after three quarters. But in the fourth quarter Hornacek had 15 points, Johnson 12 and Majerle 10, six of them on three-pointers 70 seconds apart. Johnson, who played all 48 minutes, finished with 32 points and 14 assists.

New Jersey 90, New York 75--The Nets completed one of the best weeks in their history with this victory at East Rutherford, N.J.

In the last week they have beaten Boston, Portland, Detroit and now the Knicks. And they did it without starter Sam Bowie.

Chris Dudley, subbing for Bowie, had 18 rebounds and the Nets dominated the rebounding, 65-39, permitting the Atlantic Division leaders only 68 shots.

It was the fourth loss in five games for the Knicks, who had outrebounded their previous eight opponents.

Milwaukee 109, Atlanta 106--After missing six of eight from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter at Milwaukee, the Bucks ended their five-game losing streak in overtime.

Duane Ferrell’s three-pointer at the buzzer sent it into overtime.

Seattle 113, Cleveland 107--Eddie Johnson and Ricky Pierce each had 22 points at Seattle and made the key baskets in the closing minutes for the SuperSonics.

Johnson’s jump shot broke a 100-100 tie with 2:35 left, and Pierce followed with a layup to give the Sonics a four-point lead the Cavaliers couldn’t overcome.

Michael Cage had 16 points and 14 rebounds to help the Sonics win their sixth consecutive home game. The Sonics have won 10 of their last 12 games.

Brad Daugherty and Craig Ehlo each had 21 points for the Cavaliers.