Jordan Goes to Line as Bulls Win, 96-88 : Pro basketball: New York Knicks are on the brink of elimination in Eastern Conference semifinals.

Michael Jordan has faced every imaginable defense this season, including a physically intimidating one thrown at him Tuesday night by the New York Knicks.

As usual, it did not matter.

Jordan scored 26 of his 37 points in the second half, including a clinching three-point play with 35 seconds remaining, in leading the Chicago Bulls to a 96-88 victory over the Knicks to put the defending NBA champions one victory from advancing to the Eastern Conference final.

Jordan made 15 of 17 free throws, the result of the physical game.

“The lane doesn’t belong to anybody,” Jordan said. “If I’m going to get knocked down, I’m going to the hole.”

The Bulls can end the series Thursday night at New York. A seventh game, if needed, would be played Sunday at Chicago.

Jordan called it one of the rougher games of what has been a physical series.

“We got some of the calls tonight, and we deserved them,” he said. “We finally knocked down some free throws.”

Jordan would not blame his teammates for being unable to put away the Knicks.

“It’s not a lack of the killer instinct,” he said. “The Knicks are a good team. They take the punches and keep coming back.”

Knick Coach Pat Riley said his team had its chances but could not convert.

“On the road you have to make every play and every free throw count,” Riley said. “Michael is a competitor and will take it to the basket. When you play against a guy like him, he tells you how hard he wants to win by how hard he takes it to the basket.”

Phil Jackson, coach of the Bulls, said the partisan crowd helped Chicago “come out on fire. The energy of the crowd kept us going.”

The Bulls took a 20-18 first-quarter lead, which they held throughout. New York kept coming within one point only to be held off by Jordan through most of the third quarter.

Xavier McDaniel led the Knicks with 26 points and Gerald Wilkins had 19.

Patrick Ewing finished with 14 before fouling out with 3:33 left and the Bulls leading 84-78. The closest the Knicks came after that was 89-86, and Jordan responded with a three-point play.

Twice in the first half the Knicks were called for flagrant fouls, but the Bulls failed to take advantage. With New York ahead, 10-6, Charles Oakley was charged with a flagrant foul against Bill Cartwright, who missed both free throws. Scottie Pippen then missed the shot after the inbounds pass.

With the Bulls leading, 43-40, late in the half, Mark Jackson was called for a flagrant foul, but Horace Grant missed both free throws and Jordan missed the shot on the inbounds pass.