Chapman Helps Defeat Seattle

Rex Chapman scored 42 points and set an NBA playoff record with nine three-point baskets as the Phoenix Suns, a team that lost its first 13 games, stunned the SuperSonics, 106-101, Friday at Seattle in the opener of their first-round series.

The Suns, who defeated the SuperSonics twice in a four-day stretch in March, used Chapman’s eighth three-point basket to go ahead, 95-93, with 2:42 left and his ninth for a 102-95 lead with 55 seconds remaining.

Chapman, who was 12 of 22 overall, broke the old playoff mark of eight three-pointers set by Dan Majerle of Phoenix against Seattle on June 1, 1993.

“It was one of the great moments in playoff history,” Sun guard Kevin Johnson said. “If Rex doesn’t have a game like that, we lose.”

Said Chapman: “I got going pretty good in the first half, but I was cramping up and didn’t feel good at all in the second half. Things are good when all your shots seem to fall.”

Gary Payton scored 23 points and Shawn Kemp had 19 points and 15 rebounds for Seattle, last season’s Western Conference champions. The SuperSonics led, 93-91, after a free throw by Terry Cummings with 3:38 left before the Suns scored eight unanswered points; a free throw by Chapman, a three-pointer by Chapman and two driving layups by Johnson, who contributed 13 points.

That gave Phoenix a 99-93 lead that Schrempf cut to 99-95 with two free throws with 1:16 to go. Chapman then made his final three-pointer to wrap up the victory.

Chicago 98, Washington 86--Led by Michael Jordan’s 29 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, the Bulls defeated the Bullets at Chicago to begin defense of their NBA title.

The Bulls won despite shooting only 38% and getting little production from Dennis Rodman and Toni Kukoc, who returned after missing several weeks because of injuries.

Chris Webber had only eight points in 24 minutes before fouling out. He averaged 20.1 this season.

Juwan Howard scored 21 points and Rod Strickland 19 for the Bullets, who committed 22 turnovers.

Rodman, who sat out the final 13 games because a knee injury, played with a brace and had nine rebounds and one point before being ejected for his second technical foul with 6:23 to play. Kukoc, who sat out 22 of the final 26 regular-season games, was one of 10 from the floor.

Nevertheless, Chicago snapped out of a 1-3 season-ending slump and avenged an April 3 loss at Washington--one of only 13 defeats the Bulls had this season.

Atlanta 89, Detroit 75--Dikembe Mutombo was the NBA’s defensive player of the year. In the first game of the playoffs, he showed he can score, too.

Mutombo had 26 points, a career playoff high, and the Hawks took Game 1 of their Eastern Conference series at Atlanta.

Detroit, which has not won a playoff game in five years, led, 43-39, at halftime but made only 12 of 38 shots (32%) in the second half.

Mutombo kept the Hawks in the game with his offensive output, then Atlanta’s guards took control in the final period. Steve Smith had eight points and Mookie Blaylock five in the fourth when the Hawks pulled away.

Atlanta broke open a tight game after Terry Mills drove for a basket that pulled with Pistons to 66-64 with 8:09 remaining. Blaylock made a three-pointer, Mutombo connected on a hook and Smith finished off the spurt with a three-pointer and a layup.