NBA ROUNDUP : Bulls Fall to a New Low (63) in Loss to Cavaliers

Held to a franchise record for fewest points and booed by their fans, the Chicago Bulls faced lineup changes after getting embarrassed by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“I just think we have to get some things done differently,” Coach Phil Jackson said Monday night after his team’s 77-63 loss at Chicago. “We’re just not coming out with the energy that we need to have on the home floor, particularly. This is the third or fourth home game in a row I’ve felt that droop or lack of energy.

“We’re going to sit down and figure it out. Can this team play better? Yes. How good can they play? That’s an assessment we have to make.”

Cavalier Coach Mike Fratello made a similar assessment and decided that his team had to combine a slow-paced offense with an aggressive defense and outstanding rebounding. The formula has worked--Cleveland leads the NBA in defense, is one of its best rebounding teams and has a six-game winning streak.

“We try to win. We don’t set goals of holding teams to low nights,” said Fratello, whose team entered the game giving up an average of only 89.3 points. “Some nights, teams make shots. Other nights, teams struggle and just can’t put it in.”

The Bulls’ offensive failure was complete: They shot 37% from the field, 42% from the free-throw line and 17% from three-point range.

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Phoenix 113, Washington 102--Wesley Person scored 10 of his 12 points in the first 5:27 of the fourth quarter, and the Suns held off the Bullets at Phoenix for their seventh consecutive victory.

The Bullets played without Chris Webber, who was poked in the right eye Saturday night against Minnesota. Webber, watching the game in street clothes, received a technical foul with 50 seconds left.

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Denver 104, Boston 85--Reserve Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf scored 27 points as the Nuggets defeated the cold-shooting Celtics at Denver.

Boston shot 38% while playing without leading scorer Dominique Wilkins, who was sidelined because of an ankle injury.

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NBA Notes

Philadelphia 76er center Shawn Bradley broke his nose during practice Monday but is not expected to miss any playing time, a team official said. The 7-foot-6 second-year player collided with 6-foot-11 rookie forward Derrick Alston and fractured his nose in two places.