Bulls Even Hotter Than Usual

In the 1950s and ‘60s, Red Auerbach lit his victory cigar. In 1997, Michael Jordan ices his knees.

“That’s the signal that we think we’ve got the game won,” Chicago Coach Phil Jackson said Saturday night after his star got to apply the ice bags early in the Bulls’ 120-87 victory over the Golden State Warriors at Chicago’s United Center.

Jordan scored 34 points in 31 minutes. He was 13 for 19 from the field and made five of eight three-point shots before leaving late in the third quarter.

Soon enough, the defending NBA champions had their sixth consecutive victory.

“Phil tells me when it’s time for the ice,” Jordan said. “Once I put the ice on, I can’t take it off.”

Chicago rolled to its most decisive victory of the season--quite an accomplishment for a team that is 48-6 overall and 25-1 at home.

Scottie Pippen added 22 points for the Bulls, who are on pace to match last season’s 72-10 record--the best in NBA history.

“It is amazing,” Jordan said. “Last year was a lot of pressure because we accomplished something no one else had ever done. This year, we’re not focusing on 70 and the pressure’s not quite the same.”

Golden State Coach Rick Adelman is even more impressed with this season’s Bulls.

“They’re probably better because they’ve been together that extra year,” he said. “They took us apart.”

Chicago’s Dennis Rodman grabbed 12 rebounds despite being called for two offensive fouls, a loose-ball foul, a double foul (with Andrew DeClercq) and a technical in a 1:52 span of the third quarter.

Joe Smith scored 19 points and Latrell Sprewell 18 for the Warriors, who have opened a six-game trip with losses to Minnesota and Chicago by a combined 52 points. They shot only 36% in the two games.

Philadelphia 97, Portland 80--Derrick Coleman scored 28 points and added 15 rebounds, leading the 76ers at Philadelphia.

Coleman has 49 points and 35 rebounds in his last two games.

Jerry Stackhouse had 21 points, Allen Iverson added 18 points and 12 assists and Clarence Weatherspoon registered his 15th double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds for Philadelphia.

Kenny Anderson led the Trail Blazers with 20 points.

Toronto 99, Dallas 92--Walt Williams scored 14 points and led a late surge as the Raptors won at Dallas.

Shawn Bradley, who had 19 points and 10 rebounds, cut the deficit to 79-78 with 5:55 to play. But Williams responded with nine points as Toronto took a 90-81 lead with 3:12 left.

Dallas, which got 20 points apiece from Michael Finley and Sasha Danilovic, got no closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Doug Christie scored 22 points for Toronto, 18 in the first half. Damon Stoudamire added 15 points and Marcus Camby 14 for the Raptors.

Charlotte 93, Atlanta 92--Tony Smith made a layup with 15 seconds to play and the Hornets tipped away the Hawks last chance to win at Atlanta.

After Smith’s basket, off a feed from Tony Delk, the Hawks were unable to get off a shot. Steve Smith’s attempted inbound pass with 1.4 seconds left was deflected by Anthony Mason and recovered by Donald Royal.

Mason led Charlotte with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Glen Rice added 23 points and Vlade Divac had 17 points and 10 rebounds in the Hornets’ fourth consecutive victory.