Jordan Held to 12 Points, but Bulls Win

All right. Everybody knew that Dennis Rodman wasn’t going to be around, but how were the Chicago Bulls going to win without Michael Jordan showing up?

With 16 points from Luc Longley and Scottie Pippen, actually, in a 96-83 victory at Toronto on Thursday night that was accomplished with Jordan making five of 17 shots and scoring only 12 points.

The Bulls had lost two games in a row in Toronto, a bad-luck city for Jordan, who scored only 13 points the last time they were in town.

Jordan, who grabbed 10 rebounds, wasn’t available to discuss his performance after the game. But Bull Coach Phil Jackson credited the defense of Toronto’s Doug Christie, who had four steals and five blocks.

Christie made Jordan turn the ball over six times, two shy of his personal worst in a game.

“He did a good job and Michael didn’t make the shots,” Jackson said.

Toni Kukoc, returning for Chicago after sitting out 12 games because of a foot injury, scored eight points. Rodman, who sprained his left knee in Tuesday’s victory over Dallas, will miss the Bulls’ last 13 regular-season games.

Damon Stoudamire, who scored 31 points against the Bulls in their last visit to SkyDome, was held to 18 this time. He also had 12 assists and six rebounds.

Houston 107, Cleveland 89--Eddie Johnson had a season-high 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who won in Houston and scored more points than any team has against the Cavaliers all season.

It was only the fifth time Cleveland has given up 100 points, and nobody had scored more than 102.

Johnson had Houston’s final 11 points in the second quarter when the Rockets jumped from a 36-36 tie to a 53-41 halftime lead.

Cleveland played without forward Tyrone Hill, who left the team to be with his ill father in Cincinnati.

The Rockets continued to pull away in the third quarter, and Johnson returned in the fourth quarter to score 11 more points. Johnson made 10 of 15 shots, including three of five three-point shots.

Hakeem Olajuwon scored 23 points and continued his hot-shooting at the free-throw line. He made nine of 10 and has made 27 of his last 28.

San Antonio 97, Orlando 93--Monty Williams scored 20 points for the Spurs, who won in San Antonio by holding off a furious Magic comeback.

Dominique Wilkins made two free throws with 14 seconds left to clinch the victory.

The Magic, which trailed by 20 points early in the third quarter, scored eight points in a row to pull within 92-90 on a three-point basket by Penny Hardaway.

After Wilkins’ basket gave San Antonio a four-point lead, Hardaway made a driving layup to make the score 94-92 with 44 seconds left.

Cory Alexander made one of two free throws for San Antonio, then Hardaway did the same to make it 95-93 with 15 seconds remaining.