NBA ROUNDUP : Not Even an Ankle Injury Can Slow Jordan

Michael Jordan refused to let a sprained right ankle keep him from carrying the two-time defending NBA champion Chicago Bulls to the second round of the playoffs.

Jordan scored 14 of his 39 points after being helped off the floor late in the third quarter and led the Bulls to a 98-88 victory over the Hawks at Atlanta and a sweep of their best-of-five first-round series.

“I heard something pop,” Jordan said of the injury. “I hoped it wasn’t a ligament. It was just tape popping. I just twisted it.”

Jordan had just made an 18-foot fallaway shot with 3:52 to play in the third quarter, giving the Bulls a 68-61 lead. As he retreated, he suddenly fell to the floor in pain, remaining there for several minutes. Two teammates helped him off the floor and to the locker room, where his ankle was re-taped.

He returned to the court just before the start of the fourth quarter, drawing a big cheer from the crowd of 15,141.

“I hit a slippery spot,” said Jordan, who made 16 of 28 shots. “My ankle is really sore right now. I’m glad we have a little time off.”

After polishing off the Hawks in three games, the Bulls await the winner of the New Jersey-Cleveland series, which is tied, 1-1, going into Game 3 tonight at East Rutherford, N.J.

Jordan scored two baskets and a free throw to give the Bulls a 79-69 lead with 9:42 to play, and then gave Chicago its biggest lead of the night with a dunk, making it 87-74 with 5:51 remaining.

The Hawks, taking advantage of Jordan being on the bench, put together a 9-0 run that included three points each by Dominique Wilkins, Duane Ferrell and Stacey Augmon to cut the lead to 87-83 with 3:21 left.

Chicago still led by four points when Jordan took over in the final 2:05. He made a 20-footer, came back with a three-pointer from the top of the circle and added two free throws with 20.5 seconds to play, giving the Bulls a 96-88 lead.

Wilkins scored 29 points to lead Atlanta, which saw any hopes of victory evaporate with 14-for-25 shooting from the free-throw line.

Utah 90, Seattle 80--John Stockton, shaking off the effects of a car accident the day before, ignited a fourth-quarter rally at Salt Lake City as the Jazz took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five first-round series.

The Jazz, trailing until early in the fourth quarter, outscored the SuperSonics, 18-6, to begin the quarter and hung on the rest of the way. Utah can close out the series with a victory in Game 4 Thursday night at Salt Lake City.

With Utah trailing, 69-65, Stockton made a three-point shot and, moments later, stole the ball and fed Jay Humphries for a layup to give Utah its first lead, 72-71.

In the closing minutes, Utah’s David Benoit scored five points as Utah outscored Seattle, 11-2, in the final 2:55. A jump shot by guard Ricky Pierce was Seattle’s only score in the final 3:20.

Benoit, who finished with 11 points and eight rebounds in 22 minutes, scored nine points during the fourth quarter.

Karl Malone scored 23 points as Utah shot 43% to 39% for Seattle. Stockton had 11 points and 10 assists, showing no ill effects from the collision Monday that totaled his car and left him with bruises and cuts on his right hand and arms.