Bulls Tune Up by Winning 17th in a Row

The Bulls warmed up for tonight’s showdown with Magic Johnson and the Lakers by beating the Sacramento Kings, 105-85, Thursday night at Sacramento.

Michael Jordan scored 27 points as Chicago won its 17th in a row.

Dennis Rodman tied his season high with 21 rebounds as the Bulls improved to 40-3, an NBA record for most wins with only three losses. The 1971-72 Lakers were 39-3.

Jordan had his second consecutive rough shooting night, hitting only seven of his 16 shots, but made 13 free throws. He was seven for 26 from the field in Tuesday’s 98-87 victory at Houston.

The Kings’ Mitch Richmond had 30 points, including six six-point baskets.

Of the victory, Bulls guard Steve Kerr said, “It’s a relief. Everyone was asking us about [tonight], and we were ripe for the taking.”

New York 110, Orlando 102--The Knicks survived 15 consecutive missed shots by Patrick Ewing at New York and a 30-point night by the Magic’s Nick Anderson to win their fourth in a row.

Ewing scored all 23 of his points in the first half, then lost his touch.

Dallas 103, Seattle 100--Jason Kidd scored a season-high 36 points--three short of his career high--at Dallas and the Mavericks matched a team record for three-pointers with 14 as Dallas halted Seattle’s six-game winning streak.

Miami 124, Philadelphia 104--The Heat sank 13 three-point baskets at Miami in breaking a two-game losing streak. Rex Chapman led the Heat with 23 points.

Houston 116, Charlotte 111--Sam Cassell scored all 22 of his points in the final 14:43 at Charlotte to provide the crucial help Houston needed to continue its mastery over the Hornets. Hakeem Olajuwon had 32 points and 11 rebounds as the Rockets ran their record against Charlotte to 17-2.

Detroit 87, Indiana 70--Otis Thorpe had 23 points and a season-high 14 rebounds at Auburn Hills, Mich., ending Indiana’s winning streak at seven games, one short of the Pacers’ franchise record. The Pacers’ leading scorer, Reggie Miller, had only nine points.

Milwaukee 108, Denver 102--Vin Baker scored 11 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter as the Bucks hung on at Milwaukee in a game marred by the ejection of Milwaukee’s Sherman Douglas and Denver’s Jalen Rose and LaPhonso Ellis.

NBA Notes

Washington Bullet forward Chris Webber underwent season-ending shoulder surgery. . . . Sacramento King guard Sarunas Marciulionis will be lost for at least five games following arthroscopic knee surgery. . . . The Boston Celtics’ Dino Radja will sit out the next two games to give him time to recover from an elbow to the head, an injury suffered in last Friday’s loss to Indiana. . . . Todd Eley was promoted from assistant general manager to general manager of the Denver Nuggets.