NBA ROUNDUP : Bullets Get Lit Up by Jordan’s 51

Michael Jordan added the Capital Centre to his hit list.

Jordan, who often has struggled in the dimly lit arena at Landover, Md., scored 35 of his season-high 51 points in the second half Thursday night and rallied the Chicago Bulls past the Washington Bullets, 106-100, for their eighth consecutive victory.

“You know sooner or later I’m gonna bust out,” said Jordan, whose second-half total broke Washington and arena records. Bernard King holds the Capital Centre record of 52 points, set in a game last year.

Jordan’s point total was the highest in an NBA regulation game this season. Dominique Wilkins of Atlanta scored 52 in a double-overtime game on Dec. 7.

Jordan was guarded by David Wingate for most of the game.

“It’s different with David, because you don’t have to play him as tough on defense,” Jordan said. “You can rest a little, help out a little.

“Not to knock him, but he’s not as aggressive offensively as Ledell Eackles or A.J. English.”

Jordan scored 15 points in the third quarter and 20 more in the fourth, including six in the final 1:09 to seal the outcome.

He made 19 of 30 shots, six of seven in the fourth quarter.

Eackles scored 28 points for the Bullets.

Utah 115, Denver 100--John Stockton scored eight of his 19 points during a 19-5 run in the fourth quarter that carried the Jazz past the Nuggets at Salt Lake City.

Stockton’s 12-footer with 6:21 left in the game started the decisive spurt for the Jazz, giving it a 94-89 lead. He ended the run with two free throws at the 1:53 mark for a 111-94 advantage.

Karl Malone had 31 points and 13 rebounds for Utah, which improved the best home record in the league to 29-3. Jeff Malone added 22 points and Stockton had 13 assists.

Marcus Liberty scored 23 points for Denver.

Charlotte 123, Philadelphia 116--Larry Johnson scored eight of his 34 points in overtime and the Hornets beat the 76ers at Philadelphia for their ninth victory in 11 games.

Johnson, who battled Charles Barkley head-to-head throughout the game, also had 14 rebounds. Barkley had 25 points and 13 rebounds for the 76ers but made only six of 12 free throws.

Johnson’s two free throws gave Charlotte a 115-112 lead with 2:46 left in overtime, and he added two baskets down the stretch as the Hornets pulled away.

Hersey Hawkins had 27 points on 11-for-15 shooting for Philadelphia. Dell Curry scored 22 points for the Hornets.

New York 96, Milwaukee 92--Patrick Ewing had 23 points and 14 rebounds at New York and the Knicks survived a late blitz by Dale Ellis to hand the Bucks their 15th consecutive road defeat.

The Knicks took their largest lead of the game, 92-82, with 2:36 to play on John Starks’ three-pointer. But Ellis scored eight consecutive points, bringing Milwaukee to within 92-90 on a three-pointer with 55 seconds left.

Mark Jackson of the Knicks and Frank Brickowski of the Bucks traded baskets before Starks made two free throws with nine seconds left.

Alvin Robertson had 23 points for Milwaukee.

Seattle 112, Houston 91--Ricky Pierce scored 10 of his 22 points during a 20-5 burst in the third quarter at Houston and the Super Sonics ended the Rockets’ eight-game home winning streak.

Hakeem Olajuwon was out because of a hamstring injury for Houston and Benoit Benjamin missed the game for Seattle because of a broken finger.

Otis Thorpe had 21 points for Houston.