NBA ROUNDUP : Jordan (56) Still Too Hot for the Heat

The Miami Heat, playing its first playoff game at home, came out flying Wednesday night. In no time at all, the Heat built an 18-point lead over the Chicago Bulls.

Then Michael Jordan woke up.

While Jordan was scoreless, the Heat built a 33-15 lead, but the best player in the NBA hates to lose.

Jordan scored 56 points, all in the last 38 minutes, to lead the Bulls to a 119-114 victory over the Heat and a 3-0 series victory.

The Bulls, who won the league championship a year ago by winning 15 of 17 games, started with a 3-0 sweep of New York in 1991.

In the second round, the Bulls will face the winner of the New York-Detroit series. The Knicks lead that one, 2-1.

Jordan’s first outburst enabled the Bulls to catch up in the second quarter. But the Heat refused to wilt.

There was only 5:30 left in the game when Jordan’s jumper put the Bulls ahead to stay.

In his remarkable performance, the third highest total in playoff history, he was 20 for 30 and had five rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Jordan holds the record of 63 in a double-overtime game against Boston in 1986. Elgin Baylor had 61 for the Lakers in a playoff game against the Celtics in 1962.

Jordan averaged 45 points in the three games against the Heat.

“He could score whatever number he wants,” Miami center Rony Seikaly said. “He could score 100 points if he wants to.”

Scottie Pippen added 31 points for the Bulls. Seikaly had 22 points and 12 rebounds and Glen Rice had 25 points for Miami, but the Heat couldn’t keep up with Jordan.

“I was in the zone,” he said. “I just see myself and the basket. It’s a great zone to be in.

“We were a little shocked, a little embarrassed by the Heat’s fast start. But it’s better to be down 18 early than late.”

Said Miami Coach Kevin Loughery: “We’ll feel badly because we could have won the game. But most likely they are going to be NBA champs.”

Phoenix 101, San Antonio 92--Even at home, the Spurs, without injured center David Robinson, couldn’t get a victory in the playoffs.

Jeff Hornacek and Kevin Johnson each scored 11 of their 22 points in the fourth quarter and the Suns advanced to the second round of the playoffs with 3-0 sweep.

The Spurs led by as many as six points early, but the Suns took control and led by 11 early in the fourth quarter.

In a desperate rally, Sean Elliott and Trent Tucker sank three-pointers as the Spurs cut the margin to five with 4:40 left, but that was their last gasp.

Top Playoff Performances

Pts. Player, Team Opp. Date 63 Michael Jordan, Chicago Boston 4-20-86 61 Elgin Baylor, Lakers Boston 4-14-62 56 Michael Jordan, Chicago Miami 4-29-92 56 Wilt Chamberlain, Phila. Syracuse 3-22-62 55 Rick Barry, San Francisco Phila. 4-18-67 55 Michael Jordan, Chicago Cleveland 5-1-88 54 John Havlicek, Boston Atlanta 4-1-73 53 Wilt Chamberlain, Phila. Syracuse 3-14-60 53 Jerry West, Lakers Boston 4-23-69 52 Jerry West, Lakers Baltimore 4-5-65