Finals Rematch Is a Rerun for Bulls

George Karl tried a psychological ploy, questioning Michael Jordan’s desire to drive toward the basket. The Seattle SuperSonics coach said this week that Jordan was protecting himself during the latter stages of his career.

But whether it’s mind games or basketball games, Karl quickly discovered he was on the losing end against Jordan.

Jordan scored 45 points and the Chicago Bulls defeated the SuperSonics, 91-84, in the first meeting between the teams since last season’s NBA finals. Chicago won the title last June with a 4-2 series victory over Seattle.

“I’m not scared to go anywhere on the court,” Jordan said.

On Sunday, Jordan was 19 for 28 from the field--16 of them jump shots--as the Bulls, playing without the suspended Dennis Rodman, won their seventh game in a row.

“When teams give me the jump shot, I’ll take it,” Jordan said. “If they take away the lanes, I’ll go for the jump shot.”

A somber Karl tried to back away from his pregame comments about Jordan.

“I never tried to get into his head,” he said. “I said Michael is a great jump shooter, which he is. I’ve never said anything derogatory about him. He’s a great player.”

Jordan’s teammates had some advice for Karl.

“If I was Coach Karl, I’d be quiet,” Ron Harper said. “To say anything about Michael’s game is ridiculous.”

Jordan, 34, had his third highest scoring total of the season after scoring 51 against New York and 50 against Miami.

Orlando 103, Houston 90--Clyde Drexler returned after missing two games because of a hamstring injury, but the Rockets played another game without Charles Barkley and were no match for Rony Seikaly and the Magic in Orlando.

Seikaly scored 29 points, Penny Hardaway had 16 points, and Horace Grant had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Magic, who won for the 10th time in 12 games.

Denver 115, Atlanta 104--Dikembe Mutombo, making his first appearance in Denver since signing as a free agent with the Hawks, was not much of a factor. He finished with three points, 10 rebounds and a blocked shot.

Dale Ellis scored 21 points to lead seven Nuggets in double figures.

Minnesota 103, Portland 102--At Minneapolis, Tom Gugliotta scored 27 points and Kevin Garnett recovered from a one-for-nine start to finish with 13 points and the Timberwolves won their third game in a row.

Dean Garrett, a 30-year-old rookie, had 14 points and 16 rebounds for the Timberwolves.

Miami 80, Cleveland 76--The Heat needed backcourt insurance and reserve guard John Crotty proved to be a worthy investment, making two consecutive three-point shots to put Miami ahead for good at home.

Crotty, a four-year veteran, was signed by Coach Pat Riley last month to bolster the Heat’s backcourt. He finished with 13 points to go with Tim Hardaway’s game-high 20.

Charlotte 99, New York 93--Glen Rice scored 40 points, breaking the 30-point barrier for the ninth time in 10 games, and the Hornets snapped the Knicks’ 15-game home winning streak.

Rice reached 40 points for the third time in seven games. He scored 43 points Friday against Milwaukee.

Indiana 92, New Jersey 90--Travis Best made the go-ahead three-point basket with 39.4 seconds to play, Reggie Miller scored 28 points and the Pacers came back from a 20-point deficit at Indianapolis.

New Jersey had one field goal in the final six minutes after leading, 79-72, with 8:49 to play. Kendall Gill led the Nets with 32 points.

Miller moved past the 15,000-point mark with his first basket.

Vancouver 102, Boston 92--Bryant Reeves scored a career-high 33 points and grabbed 18 rebounds and the Grizzlies snapped an eight-game losing streak at Boston.

Vancouver rookie forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 28 points to give Stu Jackson his first win in six games since he fired Brian Winters and became coach of the NBA’s worst team on Jan. 24.

Phoenix 106, Detroit 97--At Auburn Hills, Mich., reserve Mark Bryant scored 21 points and the Suns ended a six-game losing streak.

The Suns had lost 10 of 11 on the road. They became the second team to score 100 points against the Pistons this season.