Jazz Loses to Clippers, Then Sweeps Bulls

The Utah Jazz finally won a series from the Chicago Bulls.

Karl Malone scored 30 points and John Stockton had 17 points and 18 assists Wednesday night as the Jazz rallied from a 24-point deficit to beat the Bulls, 101-93, at Salt Lake City.

Utah, which lost to the Clippers on Tuesday night, became the first Western Conference team to sweep a season series from the Bulls in three years.

Michael Jordan scored 40 points for the Bulls, but Scottie Pippen sat out the final 18 minutes after he re-aggravated a pulled right hamstring. Dennis Rodman, averaging a league-leading 15.7 rebounds, had only four.

“We’ve been very ready to play these guys this year,” Stockton said. “We need to have everyone play a role for us, and we got that tonight.”

The Jazz also defeated the Bulls, 101-94, at the United Center on Jan. 25, ending Chicago’s 17-game home winning streak and 38-game winning streak against the Western Conference.

In Chicago’s first trip to the Delta Center since the 1997 NBA finals, the Jazz made only six field goals in the first quarter and trailed, 41-17, early in the second quarter. But the Jazz held the Bulls to 37% shooting in the middle quarters and hung on in the closing minutes.

The Bulls finished their six-game Western road swing with a 4-2 record.

Down, 56-45, at halftime, Utah opened the second half with a 17-5 run and took a 62-61 lead on Adam Keefe’s free throws with 5:48 left in the third quarter. After Chicago moved ahead again, Utah made three consecutive three-point shots to take a 71-69 lead into the fourth.

“We all needed to step up and hit shots in the fourth quarter, but we didn’t, myself included,” Jordan said. “We played really well in the first half, but you can’t put Utah away that early. They’re always in it.”

Jordan took 37 shots, more than his next five teammates combined. He was one for five on three-pointers.

Minnesota 95, New York 88--Stephon Marbury scored 29 points as the Timberwolves beat the Knicks at Minneapolis.

Marbury, a New York native, added 10 assists as the Timberwolves ended a three-game losing streak and handed the Knicks their fifth loss in six games.

New York closed to 80-71 heading into the fourth but missed its first nine shots in the final period and the Timberwolves built a 15-point lead.

Washington 104, Cleveland 88--The Wizards don’t know how long they’ll be without leading scorer Chris Webber. But they do know they can win without him.

Reserve Tracy Murray scored 24 points and Juwan Howard had 22 points and 13 rebounds as the Wizards won at home for their third consecutive victory.

Washington (25-23) will head into the All-Star break with a winning record for the first time since 1987.

Webber strained his right shoulder in Monday’s victory over Detroit and was scratched just before the game. He will be reevaluated before tonight’s game in Orlando.

“You’re missing 22 points and nine rebounds--that’s a lot,” Howard said. “To make up for it, everyone has to contribute.”

Shawn Kemp, who had 14 points and eight rebounds, was ejected with 15.6 seconds remaining in the third quarter and the Cavaliers trailing, 77-73. Referee Rashan Michel gave Kemp two technicals when he argued a no-call after Harvey Grant blocked his shot.

Miami 98, Philadelphia 84--The Heat started fast for a change, and the result was a quick end for the struggling 76ers at Philadelphia.

Alonzo Mourning had 19 points and 15 rebounds as the Heat handed the 76ers their seventh consecutive loss.

The Heat took the lead midway through the first quarter and cruised to its fourth victory over the 76ers this season.

Tim Hardaway had 15 points and five assists for the Heat. Jamal Mashburn added 14 points and seven rebounds, Isaac Austin had 12 points and nine rebounds, and Dan Majerle had 11 points and eight rebounds.

“It was really important to set the tone, but it was also good that we maintained it throughout the game,” Majerle said.

Allen Iverson and Derrick Coleman each scored 18 points for the 76ers, who were outrebounded 48-34.

Boston 110, Dallas 99--Dee Brown made six three-point goals in the fourth quarter, one less than the NBA record, and set a team mark with eight in a game as the Celtics handed the Mavericks their 19th consecutive road loss.

“When you get that feeling, you want the game to go on forever,” said Brown, whose playing time has suffered with rookies Ron Mercer and Chauncey Billups starting at guard.

Brown made eight of 10 three-pointers and scored a season-high 32 points. His 22 in the fourth quarter were two less than the team record for a period, and he left to a standing ovation with 1:20 left.

Brown admitted Dallas’ deficient defense helped him: “There’s a reason they’ve won only nine games.”

The Celtics got a season-high 34 assists and Billups had a career-high 13. The entire Dallas team had only 11.

“They exposed our lack of ballhandling and passing,” Maverick Coach Don Nelson said. “We knew we were vulnerable there. That’s what did us in.”

Sacramento 101, Denver 99--The Nuggets missed one of their few chances at getting a victory as Mitch Richmond scored 32 points--including four free throws in the final 12 seconds--as the Kings ended a six-game road losing streak by winning at Denver.

Billy Owens added a career-high 27 points for the Kings, who won for only the third time in their last 10 games.

LaPhonso Ellis had 23 points and 13 rebounds for the Nuggets, who have lost 13 of their last 14 home games and dropped to 4-42.

Seattle 104, Indiana 97--Vin Baker tied his career high with 41 points as the SuperSonics ended Indiana’s seven-game winning streak and improved their NBA-best record to 37-10.

Baker made 16 of 22 shots from the field and had 11 rebounds. Reggie Miller scored 25 points for the Pacers.