Rodman Plays Role, but Jordan the Star

Dennis Rodman did the unusual, smiling and walking away after stumbling over a cameraman. Michael Jordan did the usual, making the winning three-point basket at the buzzer.

Jordan scored 43 points and Rodman, in his return after an 11-game NBA suspension for kicking a cameraman, grabbed 14 rebounds as the Bulls defeated the Charlotte Hornets, 103-100, Tuesday at Chicago.

Muggsy Bogues made a three-point shot with 9.5 seconds to play to tie the score, 100-100. The Bulls didn’t call timeout and quickly got the ball upcourt. Scottie Pippen passed to Jordan, who pulled up from 22 feet and hit the straightaway shot over Dell Curry.

As he walked off the court, Jordan hugged Rodman and said, “Welcome back.”

With 5:59 to play, Rodman fouled Anthony Mason and stumbled out of bounds, where he tripped over WGN-TV cameraman Tommy Skinner. Rodman smiled, patted Skinner playfully on the chest and apologized into the camera.

Said Rodman: “It would have been a classic if I kissed him, but he probably would have sued me for slobbering all over him.”

Glen Rice, coming off his All-Star game MVP performance, scored 32 points.

In addition to playing for charity--Rodman said he would donate his salary from his first 11 games back--he played in front of his father for the first time.

Philander Rodman was flown into Chicago from the Philippines by a tabloid television show in exchange for exclusive interviews.

New York 97, Washington 92--A new coach couldn’t prevent the Bullets from the same old result against the Knicks, whose victory at Landover, Md., ruined Bernie Bickerstaff’s debut.

Patrick Ewing and John Starks scored 18 points each for the Knicks.

Bickerstaff was named the Bullet coach Monday, replacing the fired Jim Lynam.

Miami 104, Detroit 91--Tim Hardaway scored 31 points and the Heat shot 53% to defeat the Pistons at Miami.

Alonzo Mourning added 29 points for the Heat.

Houston 106, Vancouver 97--Charles Barkley returned after sitting out nine games because of a sprained ankle and reserves Brent Price and Kevin Willis each scored 20 points at Houston as the Rockets ended their six-game losing streak.

Barkley had 13 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

Cleveland 105, Philadelphia 94--Chris Mills and Tyrone Hill each had 22 points and 10 rebounds and the 76ers’ Allan Iverson didn’t back up his boast to exact revenge for being booed at the Gund Arena in last weekend’s rookie game.

Iverson had 21 points, but made only five of 22 shots.

San Antonio 111, Dallas 97--Vernon Maxwell scored a season-high 34 points as the visiting Spurs snapped a six-game losing streak.

New Jersey 104, Orlando 98--Kendall Gill scored 28 points and the Nets made eight free throws in the final 1:11 at Orlando to stop the Magic’s season-high five-game winning streak.

Milwaukee 101, Toronto 96--Vin Baker scored eight of his 23 points and had a key block in the final 3:05 as the Bucks ended a five-game losing streak.

The visiting Raptors played without center-forward Marcus Camby, who sprained his left ankle during practice Monday.

Seattle 108, Denver 81--Gary Payton scored 28 points and the SuperSonics welcomed back Nate McMillan with a home victory.

McMillan, who had sat out almost the entire season because of a torn thigh muscle, played 16 minutes, made a three-point shot in the final quarter and added five assists.

Portland 111, Phoenix 108--Kenny Anderson scored 19 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter and had five free throws in the last 30 seconds at Portland.

Utah 120, Sacramento 98--Karl Malone scored 30 points and the Jazz pulled away with a 38-point third quarter at Sacramento.