NBA ROUNDUP : Jordan Puts an End to Cavaliers’ Threat

Michael Jordan doesn’t take kindly to teams who threaten to usurp the reign of the Chicago Bulls.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, with the third-best record in the NBA, had won five in a row and were getting the idea they were ready to challenge the champions.

Jordan let the Cavaliers know in the third quarter Saturday night at Chicago that they weren’t ready to handle the Bulls.

Jordan scored 13 of his 44 points in the third quarter and the Bulls, breaking open a tight game, went on to rout the Cavaliers, 126-102.

The Bulls led only 53-51 at halftime before Jordan turned it up a notch. Chicago led after three quarters, 91-76.

“They were a little out of shape and we were hungrier than they were,” Jordan said.

It was only the second loss in the last 12 games for the Cavaliers, who are 1-3 against Chicago.

Jordan was 21 for 32 from the field. He had help from Horace Grant, who had 18 points and 18 rebounds.

The Bulls are 30-5 at home and have won 10 of their last 11. By winning their last 11 games they could tie for the best record in NBA history (69-13 by the Lakers in 1971-72).

Golden State 153, New Jersey 148--It was one of the more improbable victories for the Warriors. They trailed by nine points with 62 seconds left in regulation at East Rutherford, N.J., and won in overtime.

The Warriors, finishing a six-game, nine-night trip, appeared to be worn out when they fell behind, 139-130. But Tim Hardaway led a rally and sent the game into overtime with a three-point basket.

Billy Owens scored five points in overtime to clinch the victory.

It was the Warriors’ ninth victory in a row at New Jersey.

Portland 115, Houston 95--When Hakeem Olajuwon was injured last season, the Rockets won 15 of 25 games. With the center suspended this season, they haven’t fared so well.

Clyde Drexler had 26 points at Portland and the Trail Blazers pulled away in the second half to hand the Rockets their fifth consecutive defeat.

With Olajuwon out, the Rockets are in danger of missing the playoffs. They trail the Lakers by 1 1/2 games (three in the loss column) in the battle for the last playoff spot in the West.

New York 92, Seattle 87--The Knicks built a 16-point lead in the first 16 minutes at Seattle, fell behind in the third quarter and rallied to win.

Patrick Ewing had 28 points for the Knicks, who lead Boston by 4 1/2 games in the Atlantic Division.

The loss cut the SuperSonics’ lead over the Clippers to half a game in the fight for sixth place in the West.

Miami 109, Orlando 100--For three quarters at Orlando, Glen Rice was missing most of his shots and the Heat had only a 74-68 lead.

But Rice made six of seven shots in the last quarter to finish with 29 points and the Heat won its fourth in a row.

The victory strengthened Miami’s hold on the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. The Heat (34-38) is two games ahead of ninth-place New Jersey and half a game behind seventh-place Indiana.

Washington 113, Charlotte 97--Playing without Pervis Ellison, their leading scorer and rebounder, the Bullets relied on Ledell Eackles.

Eackles scored 21 of his 34 points in the first half at Landover, Md., as the Bullets ended their seven-game losing streak.

The loss was a blow to the Hornets’ slim hopes of making the playoffs. They fell to 28-42 and trail Miami by five games.

Phoenix 121, Denver 101--Four Suns had 23 points or more, led by Jeff Hornacek’s 25 at Denver, and the Suns won their fourth in a row.

Tom Chambers, Kevin Johnson and Dan Majerle each had 23 points. The Suns shot 63.1%.