NBA ROUNDUP : Cavaliers End Bulls’ Streak at 7

Gerald Wilkins had two options: Get stitched up in a hurry and risk his good looks, or spend a few extra minutes in the locker room.

Wilkins ended up spending more time with the doctor than he wanted, but he came back to score five consecutive points during an 18-2 fourth-quarter run that helped the Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the Chicago Bulls, 100-84, Thursday night at Richfield, Ohio.

Wilkins was cut above the right eye when he set a pick on Horace Grant with a few seconds remaining in the first half. Wilkins, who caught an elbow, spent a couple minutes on the floor before being helped to the locker room.

He didn’t return until late in the third quarter, and the Cavaliers let most of a 13-point halftime lead get away.

“I was just happy to get back out on the floor,” Wilkins said. “I kept telling the doctor, ‘Come on, come on.’

“He said, ‘If I rush, you’ll have a real ugly eye.’ ”

The Bulls, whose seven-game winning streak ended, remained a game ahead of their pace at this time last season.

The Cavaliers have won seven of nine to get to .500.

Mark Price had 21 points and 14 assists for the Cavaliers, and Wilkins scored 17.

Scottie Pippen led the Bulls with a season-high 31, although none came in the fourth quarter.

Washington 98, Dallas 95--Tom Gugliotta scored 23 points at Landover, Md., to help the Bullets hand the Mavericks their 16th consecutive loss.

Trailing, 94-93, the Mavericks forced a turnover and had a chance to take the lead. But Jamal Mashburn missed a layup, got the loose ball and then bounced a three-point shot off the rim with 10 seconds to play.

Seattle 102, New Jersey 92--Gary Payton scored 21 points and Ricky Pierce and Sam Perkins each had 20 at Seattle to help the SuperSonics end a season-high three-game losing streak.

Kenny Anderson scored 20 points and Benoit Benjamin 18 for the Nets.

Denver 113, Indiana 106--Rookie reserve forward Rodney Rogers scored 25 points and had nine rebounds and four steals--all career highs--to lead the Nuggets at Denver.

Rogers’ three-point basket from the right corner with 1:23 to play put the Nuggets ahead for good, 104-103, after the Pacers scored eight consecutive points to take their only lead of the second half and erase a 15-point deficit.

Houston 113, Sacramento 97--Hakeem Olajuwon scored 24 points at Houston to help the Rockets extend the Kings’ losing streak to six games.