Jordan Leads Bulls’ Escape : NBA playoffs: He scores 42 points as Chicago beats the New York Knicks in Game 7, 110-81.

The Windy City gusted mightily Sunday, the result of a collective sigh of relief. The Chicago Bulls, their NBA title on the line earlier than expected, saved the day, not to mention the season, by beating the New York Knicks, 110-81, at Chicago Stadium to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

The Bulls expected to be there all along. That it took them this long to qualify was the cause for concern.

“Everybody was feeling the pressure,” Michael Jordan acknowledged.

With good reason, because the Knicks had become something of a wild card. The same team that lost all four regular-season games against Chicago; that finished the same regular season by losing five of its last eight games and the Atlantic Division title and that needed a five games to win in the first round, had the Bulls on the ropes.

The heavy favorites were getting beaten up as well as beaten.

The Knicks had won at Chicago earlier in the series. Sunday, they trailed, 56-51, at halftime, even though the Bulls shot 57.9% and Jordan had 29 of his 42 points.

“His first six minutes of basketball showed me we should have played the game yesterday,” New York Coach Pat Riley said. “He had one day too much of rest.”

On the other hand, Coach Phil Jackson said, there was reason for optimism. Yes, the Bulls should have had a bigger lead, but only because they missed a couple of shots inside during the closing minute. At least they were being aggressive.

When that carried over into the second half, especially on defense, the Bulls knew they were safe.

Nine of their 13 steals came during the second half, when the Knicks also committed 11 of their 17 turnovers. More important, New York’s offensive rhythm was broken, the main reason their 42.5% shooting at halftime dropped to a dismal 37.8% by game’s end.

“We really turned up the defense in the second half,” Jordan said. “We sniffed the kill a little bit.”

The most significant damage was done during the third quarter, starting with the Bulls still holding a 60-57 lead with 9:01 to play. The Knicks had made 20 of 42 shots (47.6%).

The rest of the way?

Eight for 32 (25%).

Chicago, which will play host to the Cleveland Cavaliers when the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals begin Tuesday, finished the third period with a 19-7 run to gain control, 79-64.

“We hit about two or three shots,” said Riley, who predicted Chicago will repeat as champions. “Phil took a timeout and they (the Bulls) composed themselves. They became more aggressive defensively. What we, basically, relegated ourselves to was a perimeter team.”

Added B.J. Armstrong, who had 12 points as a reserve for Chicago: “We were upset at how we were playing, and today we looked in the mirror and had to get back to playing Bulls basketball. Some of our third-quarter plays took the heart out of them.”

Chicago was finally rid of the Knicks, who had come at them with the same fury as last year’s rival, the Detroit Pistons.

“It was mentally draining to wake up every day and play this physical, bruising team,” Jordan said.

The Bulls had only themselves to blame for being in this position in the first place. The Knicks’ defense caused more problems than it should have. The most telling statement is that Chicago, after winning 16 more games than New York during the regular season, wasn’t mentally prepared for the challenge.

It was like they were sleepwalking, Jordan said:

“We went into the series thinking sweep, and then we were more or less put in the position of ‘defensing’ our home court. It was a good ‘wake up.’ ”

Too good?

“It was a good test,” Jackson said. “We won’t know if we wore ourselves out until next week.”

The Cavaliers will be waiting. They won two of five games against the Bulls during the regular season, including one in Chicago. The Bulls again will be favorites.

“I’m not making any predictions for the next series,” the Bulls’ Horace Grant said after getting 14 points and four blocked shots. “None. This had to be the toughest series. Something we didn’t expect.”