There’s Just No Way to Keep Bulls Out of Playoffs Now

Dennis Rodman, pink fingernails and all, returned from a one-game suspension to grab 18 rebounds and Michael Jordan scored 38 points as the Chicago Bulls became the first team to clinch a playoff berth by defeating Indiana, 104-96, Friday night at Chicago.

Scottie Pippen added 24 points for the Bulls, who are 53-7 overall and 30-1 at the United Center with 23 consecutive home victories.

Utah 95, Detroit 88--Karl Malone tied his season high with 41 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, as the Jazz defeated the Pistons in Salt Lake City.

Grant Hill led Detroit with 29 points, 19 in the second half.

Miami 108, Washington 105--Tim Hardaway scored a career-high 45 points and the Heat, after blowing a 20-point, fourth-quarter lead, won in overtime at Landover, Md.

Jamal Mashburn added 23 points, including a 15-foot baseline jumper that gave the Heat the lead for good, 104-103, with 2:55 left in overtime.

Golden State 108, Orlando 101--Latrell Sprewell had 21 points and 10 assists and made three free throws in the final minute as the Warriors overcame a 15-point deficit to beat the Magic in San Jose.

Phoenix 104, Sacramento 87--Kevin Johnson scored 21 points and backcourt mates Jason Kidd and Rex Chapman led a fourth-quarter charge as the Suns won at home over the Kings.

Chapman finished with 17 points and Kidd had 15, and the two combined for 15 of Phoenix’s first 17 points of the fourth quarter to break open a close game.

New York 113, Boston 102--Patrick Ewing scored a season-high 39 points and the Knicks overcame a 20-point deficit to defeat the Celtics in Boston.

The Knicks won their 19th game in a row against Boston, the longest winning streak over the Celtics by any team in their 50-year history. Boston has lost 16 of its last 17 games.

Atlanta 90, Milwaukee 80--The Hawks tied a team record by limiting the Bucks to only eight points in the third quarter.

Dikembe Mutombo and Steve Smith scored 20 points apiece to lead the Hawks, who trailed, 55-48, at halftime before taking control with their defense. Milwaukee was led by Glenn Robinson’s 26 points, but the Bucks went the final five minutes of the third without scoring.

San Antonio 106, Toronto 103--Vernon Maxwell tied his season high with 34 points, including six in the final 92 seconds, to help the visiting Spurs end a seven-game losing streak.

Cory Alexander scored 18 points off the bench, Greg Anderson had 14 and Vinny Del Negro made a key defensive play to redeem himself after missing two free throws with 5.4 seconds left.

Minnesota 96, Denver 83--Tom Gugliotta recovered from a poor first quarter and sparked a third-quarter comeback at Minneapolis as the Timberwolves set a franchise record with their 30th victory.

Gugliotta went one for 10 in a first quarter that saw both teams score only 16 points, but he finished with 30 points and 11 rebounds.

Seattle 109, New Jersey 90--Hersey Hawkins scored 26 points and Gary Payton added 24 at Seattle as the SuperSonics improved their post-All Star mark to 10-2.

Portland 80, Dallas 69--The Mavericks’ ugly road tour hit Portland, and they failed to reach 70 points for the second consecutive game.

The Trail Blazers won their fifth game in a row to match their longest winning streak of the season.