NBA ROUNDUP : Bulls Waste 20-Point Lead in 111-108 Loss

The Chicago Bulls will have to put their goal of 70 regular-season victories on hold for at least another season.

The best they can do now is match the 69 victories by the 1971-72 Lakers after blowing a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter and losing to the Orlando Magic, 111-108, Saturday night.

Michael Jordan called it “the worst loss of the year.”

“I’m sure we’ll learn something from this game, no doubt,” he said. “It kind of wakes you up. I’m disappointed. We did some experimenting and tried some new things, but then we lost our rhythm.”

Bull Coach Phil Jackson said the club deserved to lose.

“Momentum or whatever fell out of us,” he said. “They just came back. You have to hand it to them, they never quit.”

Chris Corchiani put the game away for Orlando with two free throws with three seconds left.

“We’re just happy to get a win any time,” Orlando Coach Matt Guokas said. “Obviously, it’s very special to beat the world champions on their home court.”

It was Orlando’s first victory in Chicago and only its third in 12 games against the Bulls. The loss was only the fifth in 33 games at home for the Bulls this season.

Terry Catledge scored 20 points for Orlando and Williams had 19, including 11 in the fourth quarter. Roberts scored 18, including 10 in the fourth quarter.

New York 105, Miami 88--Xavier McDaniel led a balanced offense at New York as the Knicks won their third game in a row and handed the Heat its fourth consecutive loss.

San Antonio 101, Seattle 96--Rod Strickland scored seven of his 21 points in the final seven minutes at San Antonio as the Spurs won at home for the 16th time in 18 games under interim coach Bob Bass.

David Robinson led the Spurs with 22 points and 14 rebounds. With his third blocked shot of the game late in the second quarter, he became the Spurs’ career blocks leader with 940. Robinson passed George Gervin, who had 939 blocks in 899 games. Robinson has played only 231 games with San Antonio.

Phoenix 121, Minnesota 105--Tim Perry scored three consecutive baskets late in the fourth quarter at Phoenix as the Suns sent the Timberwolves to a franchise-record 12th loss in a row.

The game was interrupted by seven technicals, two of which led to the ejection of Minnesota Coach Jimmy Rodgers in the second quarter.

Utah 95, Portland 77--Karl Malone scored 22 points and pulled down a game-high 18 rebounds in the victory at Salt Lake City.

Malone scored 14 second-half points after being held to one basket in the first half by the double- and triple-teaming Trail Blazers.