Gem of Game for Pippen in Victory Over Nuggets

On a defense-optional night, Scottie Pippen had the best offensive game of his career.

“My teammates were looking for me, I was in a good rhythm, nobody was playing much defense and the basket looked real big to me,” Pippen said after scoring 47 points in the Chicago Bulls’ 134-123 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night at Chicago. “It was just one of those nights.”

In what has been a low-scoring season, Denver is giving up an average of 102.3 points, fourth-most in the league.

“I thought it was a layup drill after a while,” Nugget Coach Dick Motta said.

Chicago, one of the top defensive teams with an average of 91.3 points given up, also forgot about defense in the fourth quarter--when Denver scored 44.

Utah 113, San Antonio 105--Karl Malone had 37 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for the Jazz, who tied the Lakers for the best record in the Western Conference at 37-14.

John Stockton, the all-time assist leader showed he can score, too. He got the 14,000th point of his 13-year career with the Jazz in this game at Salt Lake City.

Stockton, who finished with 19 points and 10 assists, reached the scoring plateau with a layup in the second quarter.

The Spurs, who dressed only nine players, lost Vernon Maxwell to a sore knee after the first half.

New York 95, Phoenix 94--John Starks’ three-point shot at the buzzer gave the Knicks the victory at New York.

With the clock inside two seconds, Starks pump faked and caused Danny Manning to jump past him. He then reset himself about a foot behind the three-point line and launched a high-arching shot that left his fingertips just moments before the buzzer sounded.

It was the Knicks’ first one-point victory over the season.

Patrick Ewing had 31 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Knicks, who have won six in a row.

Miami 111, Philadelphia 83--Tim Hardaway scored 29 points at Philadelphia as the Heat won a franchise-best 10th consecutive game.

Jamal Mashburn, playing his second game for Miami since being obtained in a trade with Dallas, added 15 points for the Heat.

Alonzo Mourning had 14 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks for Miami, which blew out the 76ers for the second time in four days and stayed undefeated in February.

Sacramento 95, Minnesota 84--Mitch Richmond scored 20 points and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf had eight straight points late in the game to help the Kings beat the Timberwolves at Sacramento.

Olden Polynice had 17 points and 21 rebounds for Sacramento, while Billy Owens added 17 points and 13 rebounds. Abdul-Rauf finished with 16 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter.