NBA FINALS : The Suns Keep Coming Back, but Bulls Win : Game 2: Jordan’s 42 points are matched by Barkley’s, but Chicago holds on, 111-108, and becomes first team to open the finals with two road victories.

The Chicago Bulls were there around each bend, waiting past every corner, seemingly toying with the Phoenix Suns, as if they could turn it on whenever they wanted.

For two games now, the Suns have made considerable runs at the Bulls and come away with nothing. The best they got Friday night at America West Arena was the lead for 16 seconds, noteworthy in itself. The worst was a 2-0 deficit in the best-of-seven championship series.

If there was ever a time when one team dominated a close game, this was it, a 111-108 victory for the Bulls behind Michael Jordan’s 42 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. Chicago became the first team to open the NBA finals with two road victories.

“At some point in the ballgame, I didn’t think there was any way we were going to lose, no matter what happened,” Chicago Coach Phil Jackson said. “The momentum always seemed to jump back to us.”

Said Bull guard John Paxson: “Any time you’ve got Michael Jordan down the stretch, you’ve got to feel good about your situation.”

Jordan had 12 of his points in the fourth quarter in his scoring duel with Charles Barkley, who also had 42 points--as well as 13 rebounds. The Bulls’ Scottie Pippen had 15 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists despite five-of-12 shooting, and Horace Grant added 24 points.

The Bulls actually made their first stand two nights earlier, when Phoenix came from 20 points behind to get within two. In Game 2, the Suns rallied from 14 behind.

Behind by only 59-58 early in the third quarter, the Suns saw the Bulls go on a 7-0 run. The Suns pulled to 68-67, but the Bulls scored 10 consecutive points. Phoenix pulled to 83-82, but two consecutive baskets by Jordan ensured Chicago a lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Suns went ahead for the first time all series, 91-89, on a layup by Barkley. But Chicago responded with two baskets and, after Danny Ainge’s jumper for Phoenix, Paxson made a three-pointer. The Bulls were back ahead, 96-93, this time to stay.

“A lesser team might have gone in their shell and not stayed true,” Jackson said.

The Suns didn’t go away, either. They were within 106-103 when Ainge readied for a three-pointer with about 25 seconds left. Pippen reached up and knocked the shot away, and Phoenix was forced to foul thereafter.

“We’re in a big hole right now and we’re in the right state for big holes,” Barkley said. “We’d fit right into the Grand Canyon.”

The notion of a Game 1 replay--a bad start for the Suns followed by a good finish--began to take shape as the Suns fell behind by 14 points in the second quarter.

With the score 33-33, Chicago went on a 20-8 run, started by a Jordan basket, but followed by a layup drill.

Slam dunk, Grant. Scott Williams, layup. Williams, dunk. Jordan, driving two-hand slam off a three-on-none fast break after a turnover. Grant, dunk. Jordan, slicing through the lane for a lay-in. Grant, two free throws after being fouled two feet from the basket. Seven consecutive possessions. A 49-41 lead.

The Bulls tried the outside again, with the same result. B.J. Armstrong made a wide-open shot from the perimeter, then Grant connected. That was followed by a Jordan layup-Jordan tip-in-Pippen layup series on the next three trips.

Jordan’s second basket of that series made for the biggest lead--57-43--but the last play probably stung Phoenix far more: Jordan 30 feet straight out from the basket with two seconds left on the shot clock, whipping the ball inside to Pippen for an easy basket.

The Suns finished the half with 10-2 rally to close within 59-53. Barkley had 25 of the points, on 10-of-14 shooting, but no teammate had more than eight.

NBA Notes

Game 3 will be Sunday night at Chicago Stadium. . . . Only two teams have ever come back from an 0-2 deficit to win the finals: the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977 against the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics in 1969 against the Lakers. No team has rallied from 0-3. . . . The NBA fined the New York Knicks $25,000 for failing to make its players available to the media before Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.

NBA FINALS

Chicago Bulls

vs. Phoenix Suns

All Times PDT

* Game 1: Chicago 100, Phoenix 92

* Game 2: Chicago 111, Phoenix 108

* Sunday: at Chicago, 4 p.m.

* Wednesday: at Chicago, 6 p.m.

* Friday: at Chicago,* 6 p.m.

* June 20: at Phoenix,* 4 p.m.

* June 23: at Phoenix,* 6 p.m.

* If necessary

All games televised by NBC and broadcast by KLAC (570) and XTRA (690).