NBA ROUNDUP : Pippen Is Back, and So Are the Bulls Against Hawks

Scottie Pippen is back, which means the road to recovery for the Chicago Bulls was short.

His was a bit longer.

Pippen had 16 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists for the Bulls, who won their 42nd consecutive home game by beating the Atlanta Hawks, 111-80, Thursday night.

It was only three days since an embarrassing loss to the expansion Toronto Raptors, and the turnabout was done with only 13 points from Michael Jordan, 18 below his NBA-leading average.

“I’ve been trying different things,” said Pippen, who had averaged 13.3 points on 35% shooting since Feb. 20. “I tried inserts in my shoes. I even changed my hairdo a little bit. Tonight was probably the best I’ve felt in a while.”

Pippen has been bothered by sore knees, an aching back and a sprained ankle. He even sat out five games in an attempt to heal.

Toni Kukoc scored 24 points for the Bulls, who improved to 61-8 overall and 35-0 at home this season.

Denver 92, Vancouver 88--Speaking of things like expansion and streaks, the first-year Grizzlies lost their 20th game in a row to tie an NBA record for consecutive defeats in one season. The overall record is held by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who lost 24 over two seasons in 1982.

Jalen Rose broke an 88-88 tie with a short jump shot from the key with 27.9 seconds to go, putting the Nuggets ahead for good.

Portland 94, Golden State 89--Arvydas Sabonis had 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who held off a Golden State rally.

NBA Notes

Guard Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was placed on the injured list by the Denver Nuggets because of a sore left foot.