Trail Blazers Beat Bulls in Chicago

Arvydas Sabonis has traveled the world playing basketball, winning an Olympic gold medal along the way and a reputation as one of the greatest centers in international competition.

Now he has a victory over the Chicago Bulls on their homecourt where they have been nearly invincible for three seasons.

“The win is important for us, especially against Chicago, which is such a good team,” Sabonis said after scoring 21 points and matching a career-high with 20 rebounds to help the Portland Trail Blazers stun the Bulls, 106-101, Wednesday night.

“It’s important for me, for my kids to know in the years to come we beat them,” Sabonis added.

The Trail Blazers blew a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter but recovered with some clutch three-point shooting from Damon Stoudamire, Isiah Rider and Rasheed Wallace to end Chicago’s eight-game winning streak.

It was only the Bulls’ third loss in 29 games at the United Center this season. Chicago lost a total of four home games in its previous two regular seasons.

“I don’t think we stole anything,” said Stoudamire, who had 24 points and 11 assists. “We’re a young team and growing together and have a chance for success in the future.”

Michael Jordan scored 33 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter to spark the Bulls’ furious comeback. But he made only nine of 26 shots from the field.

Scott Burrell scored 12 of his 15 points for Chicago in the final quarter.

Atlanta 112, Denver 88--Alan Henderson continued to take advantage of his new starting role, scoring 22 points on 10-of-11 shooting as the Hawks routed the Nuggets at Denver.

Christian Laettner, now Henderson’s backup, and Steve Smith each added 18 points for the Hawks, who won their third in a row.

Anthony Goldwire led the Nuggets with 20 points and rookie Tony Battie had 14 rebounds.

Orlando 100, Dallas 79--Bo Outlaw scored a career-high 29 points as the Magic defeated the Mavericks at Orlando.

Outlaw also had 11 rebounds as the Magic dominated Dallas on the boards, 47-29.

It was the Magic’s fifth consecutive victory and the Mavericks fifth loss in a row. Derek Harper scored 18 points for the Magic, while Michael Finley led Dallas with 16.

Cleveland 106, Vancouver 101--Rookie Cedric Henderson scored a career-high 30 points to lead the Cavaliers at Cleveland.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 22 points, Shawn Kemp scored 16 and Brevin Knight had 17 assists for Cleveland, which ended a two-game losing streak.

Bryant Reeves’ 29 points led Vancouver, which lost its fifth in a row and fell to 3-25 on the road and 14-42 overall.

George Lynch had 16 points and Pete Chilcutt 14 for the Grizzlies.

Charlotte 98, Pistons 88--Glen Rice scored 33 points to lead the Hornets over the Pistons at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Rice helped the Hornets finish a long road trip at 3-3. Detroit, which was led by Grant Hill’s 27 points, lost for the fifth time in seven games.

Charlotte, which led by two points at halftime, broke the game open with a 12-0 run midway through the third period. Rice scored six points during the spurt.

Matt Geiger scored 20 points for Charlotte, and Brian Williams had 14 points for the Pistons.

Boston 111, Sacramento 94--In his first home game since joining the Celtics, Kenny Anderson had 21 points and nine assists to lead Boston over the Kings.

Anderson, acquired from Toronto in a seven-player deal on Feb. 18, stole the ball only eight seconds into the game and had five points in his first shift. He left the game with 3:50 left in the first quarter to a solid ovation from the crowd.

Antoine Walker scored 25 points to lead the Celtics. Billy Owens had 20 points and 11 rebounds for Sacramento.