Bulls Avoid Consecutive Losses

It has been a troubling weekend for the Chicago Bulls.

First, they ran into trouble in New Jersey, where they lost to the Nets on Friday night.

Then Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks, Michael Jordan had trouble making baskets and Dennis Rodman got into trouble with the referees.

The Bulls managed to defeat the Hawks, 99-79, in Chicago despite getting only 10 points from Jordan and Rodman getting ejected.

Scottie Pippen scored 17 points for the Bulls, who rebounded from a 99-98 loss to New Jersey in which Jordan shot a last-second air ball.

Jordan, whose previous low this season was 13 against Toronto in December, was five of 11 from the field against the Hawks before sitting out the fourth quarter. Jordan averages 30.8 points to lead the NBA.

“We wanted to get Michael on the bench and get him as much rest as possible,” Chicago Coach Phil Jackson said.

The Bulls’ troubles peaked when Rodman, who had 10 points and 14 rebounds, was ejected with a minute to play in the third quarter. Rodman picked up two technical fouls after a brief exchange under the basket with Dikembe Mutombo.

“He was trying to attack me,” Mutombo said.

After getting ejected, Rodman was restrained by teammate Luc Longley. After a brief chat at midcourt with Jackson, Rodman handed his jersey to a youngster as he left the court.

Rodman wasn’t available for comment after the game, but Jackson said Mutombo “hit Dennis in the face and Dennis reacted.”

Rodman has been suspended three times this season, and ejected from three games.

Utah 100, Washington 93--At Landover, Md., Karl Malone scored 32 points and the Jazz benefited from Chris Webber’s first NBA ejection.

Webber, the Bullets’ leading scorer and rebounder, was ejected in the second quarter after getting two consecutive technical fouls. It was his first ejection since he joined the league in 1993.

Malone needs 62 more points to pass Jerry West and move into 10th place on the NBA career scoring list.

Golden State 106, Toronto 102--Donyell Marshall had 20 points and a career-high 14 rebounds for the Warriors, who nearly blew a 26-point lead at San Jose.

The Warriors were ahead 82-56 after a Joe Smith jump shot with 2:13 remaining in the third quarter, but the Raptors went on a 38-16 run during the next 13 minutes.

Marcus Camby scored 27 points and Damon Stoudamire had 18 points and 14 assists for Toronto.

Charlotte 107, Philadelphia 99--At Philadelphia, Glen Rice scored 27 points and the Hornets won for the seventh time in eight games.

The Hornets are 16-4 since February, a stretch that has seen them score 105 points a game with the help of 46% three-point shooting. Rice, the NBA’s best three-point shooter at 47%, has averaged 30 points in that span.

Denver 121, San Antonio 105--LaPhonso Ellis made seven three-point shots and finished with a career-high 39 points at Denver.

Antonio McDyess scored 33 points and Ervin Johnson had 15 rebounds and six blocked shots for the Nuggets.

Denver had 15 three-point baskets to match the franchise record set against Sacramento March 5.

Phoenix 101, Dallas 76--Kevin Johnson scored 23 points and the Suns broke open a tight game with a 16-5 run midway through the third quarter at Phoenix.