Jordan Scores 41, Rodman Fouls Up Nelson Strategy

Michael Jordan scored 41 points for his NBA record-tying 787th consecutive double-figure scoring game and Dennis Rodman foiled Don Nelson’s intentional fouling strategy as the Chicago Bulls defeated Dallas, 111-105, on Monday night at Chicago.

Rodman just missed a triple-double, getting 27 rebounds, 11 points and eight assists, as Chicago stretched its winning streak to eight games and extended the Mavericks’ losing streak to 12.

Jordan matched Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s streak of double-figure scoring games. Jordan, who last failed to score at least 10 points on March 22, 1986, can break the record tonight at Minnesota.

Rodman got his season-high point total and matched his career highs in free throws attempted (12) and made (nine) thanks to Bubba Wells.

The Dallas rookie, who had played only 45 minutes all season, was put into the game by Nelson at the end of the second and third quarters expressly to foul Rodman--a 39% free-throw shooter entering the game.

Wells grabbed Rodman away from the ball six times and ended up fouling out in only three minutes of playing time, breaking the 41-year-old NBA record set by Dick Farley of the Syracuse Nationals in 1956.

“I wasn’t surprised by it. [Nelson] has an awful team,” Rodman said. “I think Don Nelson is a great coach. I respect him, but that was a crazy, crazy game plan.”

Said Nelson: “It’s a strategy that we tried and, hey, it didn’t work. But I’ll do it again. It’s probably better than Michael making every shot.”

Charlotte 120, Houston 101--David Wesley scored 21 of his season-high 32 points in the first quarter, leading a barrage of three-point shooting as the Hornets defeated the Rockets at Houston to end a three-game road losing streak.

The Hornets, second in the NBA in three-point shooting at 37%, connected on 12 of 18 from behind the arc and shot 60% overall.

Del Curry came off the bench to add 23 points, and Anthony Mason had 20.

Clyde Drexler and Kevin Willis topped Houston with 18 points apiece and Charles Barkley had 12 rebounds.

New Jersey 99, Washington 91--Rookie Keith Van Horn had 32 points and 10 rebounds and Jayson Williams added 19 points and 22 rebounds as the Nets prevailed despite making two field goals in the fourth quarter at East Rutherford, N.J.

Chris Webber had 22 points for the Wizards before fouling out with 4:19 to play.

Van Horn made 10 of 19 shots and all 10 free throws. Sam Cassell added 19 points for the Nets.