It’s Jordan, With or Without Extra Help

Michael Jordan took a look into the future Tuesday night in Chicago and it made him weary.

Gary Payton took a look at the past and it made him angry. Then again, most everything made him angry.

Jordan played 50 minutes, scored 32 points, made the game-winning free throws in overtime and pulled down 18 rebounds for the Bulls, who needed everything he could provide to beat Seattle, 89-87.

Jordan’s free throws came after Payton, who finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists, made a free throw with 16 seconds to play to tie it, 87-87. After Payton missed the second free throw, Jordan rebounded, brought the ball up and was fouled by Payton as he was triple-teamed.

“He lost the ball and I didn’t foul anybody,” said Payton, who already was angry Tuesday about being accused of punching a limousine drive in a fare dispute. “We did a great job and played great defense. It’s heartbreaking for us, and I hope we get a chance to play them again.”

Seattle Coach George Karl said he wouldn’t talk about the play on which Jordan was fouled. But he offered an opinion.

“Everybody in the world knows there’s a double standard here,” said Karl, whose team lost to the Bulls, 4-2, in the finals last June. “But that’s part of it. You got to win a championship. It’s the old cliche of knocking out the world champion in boxing.”

The world champion likes the idea of staying world champion.

“This is the kind of high-intensity atmosphere we’re going to see for a month in the playoffs, so why not try it now?” Jordan said.

“I was determined that I would carry my load and some extra. I was able to make my free throws. We had to find a way to win. I feel great.

“I feel tired.”

And Jordan disputed Karl’s double-standard claim.

“That’s garbage,” he said. “I got a silly foul on the other end I didn’t think was a foul. . . . I disagree with that.”

The Bulls, who escaped with their 25th consecutive home victory, also won in Seattle.

“We defended our home court, and we proved we can win there. They didn’t prove they can win here,” Jordan said.

Portland 92, Sacramento 87--Kenny Anderson scored all 22 of his points in the second half for the Trail Blazers, who won their 10th game in a row and helped out the Clippers in Portland.

It is the Trail Blazers’ longest winning streak since they won a club-record 16 in a row at the end of the 1990-91 season.

The Portland victory, coupled with the Clippers’ win in Phoenix, pushed Los Angeles into seventh place, one game ahead of Sacramento in the Western Conference playoff race.

The Trail Blazers scored the first 15 points of the game, blew the lead and then took control in the fourth quarter after the Kings’ Milt Richmond made two baskets to cut the lead to 85-83.

New York 98, Vancouver 73--The Knicks had lost to two bad teams in a row, so they found an even worse one--actually the worst in the NBA--and got 22 points from Patrick Ewing in winning in New York.

The Grizzlies didn’t score over the final 9:05, and their losing streak was extended to 14 games. They came into the game without their center, Bryant Reeves, who was out because of flu. That left Ewing to play against the likes of Eric Leckner, Roy Rogers and Aaron Williams. It was no contest.

Houston 97, New Jersey 89--Reserves Sedale Threatt and Eddie Johnson scored 11 points each in the fourth quarter for the Rockets, who brought New Jersey back to reality in East Rutherford.

The Nets had beaten New York and Chicago in their previous two games.

Threatt finished with 15 points and Johnson had 16 for Houston, which came from behind to win in the fourth quarter for the 17th time this season.

Clyde Drexler, playing only his second game since returning after a hamstring injury, led the Rockets with 23 points and 12 assists.

Indiana 115, Minnesota 97--The Pacers shot 57% and got 27 points from Reggie Miller and 23 points and 13 rebounds from Dale Davis in Indianapolis.

Toronto 117, Philadelphia 105--Marcus Camby had 36 points and Damon Stoudamire had 30 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds for the Raptors, who won in Toronto.

Washington 86, Dallas 85--Calbert Cheaney’s layup with 1.5 seconds to play gave the Bullets their fifth victory in a row on the road.

Chris Webber passed to Cheaney, who beat Derek Harper for the game-winning shot.