Collins, Pistons Emotionally Beat Bulls

Michael Jordan smiled. Doug Collins wept. Care to guess whose team won the game?

Collins’ team.

At Auburn Hills, Mich., the embattled Collins watched as the Detroit Pistons overcame mild dissension to dismantle Collins’ former team, the Chicago Bulls, 108-91, Sunday.

Terry Mills’ three-point shooting was more than Chicago could handle and the Pistons ended the Bulls’ hopes of matching last season’s 72-10 record.

“I really don’t know where to start, except to say that this is my proudest moment as a coach,” said Collins, who wore a tie for the first time this season. “Not because it was the Chicago Bulls and it was my former team, but because of what we have gone through here for a few weeks.”

The Pistons, playing their third game in four days, went into the game riding a four-game losing streak and fending off rumors that Collins was in trouble. The rumors, launched outside of Detroit, were unfounded. Yet they were a distraction.

“I told the players the greatest compliment they could ever give their coach was to do what they did today,” said Collins, who was fired before the Bulls began their glory years. “They played with courage from start to finish.”

Mills, shooting five for nine from three-point range, led the Pistons with 29 points. Grant Hill, who has recorded five triple-doubles in his past eight games, had 27 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. It was his 12th triple-double this season.

Houston 113, Seattle 73--Clyde Drexler scored 20 points and Charles Barkley had 17 points and 15 rebounds at Houston.

The Rockets won the season series, 3-1, giving them the home-court advantage in a playoff matchup with the Sonics if the teams finish with the same regular season record.

Gary Payton scored 22 points and Shawn Kemp, who got into early foul trouble, finished with six points.

Phoenix 105, Golden State 97--Rex Chapman and Kevin Johnson each scored 26 points and the Suns completed a four-game series sweep at San Jose.

Golden State’s Latrell Sprewell and Donyell Marshall left because of injuries in the third quarter. Marshall suffered a left shoulder strain and Sprewell sprained his right ankle.

Milwaukee 132, New Jersey 123--Glenn Robinson scored 25 points to lead six players in double figures at Milwaukee and the Bucks won their second in a row for the first time in nearly two months.

Rookie Kerry Kittles had a season-high 40 points for the Nets.