NBA ROUNDUP : Pippen Is Difference for the Bulls, 109-105

Coach Phil Jackson summed up the difference between the Chicago Bulls of three weeks ago and the Bulls of today.

“Scottie Pippen is the difference,” Jackson said after Pippen scored 28 points and drove for a key three-point play to help the Bulls hold off the New Jersey Nets, 109-105, at East Rutherford, N.J., on Friday night for their fifth victory in six games.

“He gives us energy and helps us crack open the door and gives us the advantage in a close game.”

The Bulls found themselves in a close game after the Nets, trailing late in the third quarter, 84-69, rallied in the fourth quarter and pulled to 95-93 on a jumper by Kevin Edwards with 4:48 to play.

Pippen and Pete Myers responded with consecutive three-point plays, Pippen’s at the 4:03 mark and Myers’ 24 seconds later, giving the Bulls a 101-93 lead.

The Nets, who got 31 points and 11 assists from Kenny Anderson, got no closer than the final margin.

“The Bulls have always been proud of their defense, and at the end we just picked it up and didn’t give them any opportunities,” said Pippen, who sat out 10 games earlier in the season because of tendinitis in his right ankle.

Orlando 117, Boston 102--Shaquille O’Neal, the NBA’s leading scorer, had 30 points, 12 rebounds and eight blocks at Orlando, Fla.

Scott Skiles scored 24 points for the Magic, which took a 15-point lead early in the fourth quarter that wasn’t challenged.

The Celtics were led by rookie Dino Radja with 22 points, but only six of those came in the second half. Sherman Douglas added 19 points and 13 assists.

Denver 107, Utah 98--Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and LaPhonso Ellis each scored five points during a 15-0 fourth-quarter run that lifted the Nuggets at Denver.

Abdul-Rauf scored 25 points and Ellis 18 for the Nuggets, and Dikembe Mutombo added 13 points, 10 blocked shots and nine rebounds. It was the fourth time this season that Mutombo blocked nine or more shots.

The Jazz, led by Karl Malone with 27 points and 14 rebounds, had a five-game winning streak stopped.

Milwaukee 90, Detroit 88--Ken Norman made two three-point shots in the last 1:46, helping the Bucks rally from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Sacramento 109, Philadelphia 103--Mitch Richmond scored 26 points and Lionel Simmons had 23 points and 16 rebounds at Philadelphia, helping the Kings end an eight-game losing streak.

Rookie Shawn Bradley led the 76ers with 17 points.