He Finds a Way to Respond to Critic

After taking a written beating from Michael Jordan in a national magazine, Alonzo Mourning administered a basketball beating to a much weaker opponent, the Boston Celtics.

Mourning scored 26 points, bringing his average to 24.2 for the last five games, as the Miami Heat improved its NBA-best road record to 24-12 with a 105-91 victory Wednesday night.

Earlier Wednesday, ESPN Magazine went on sale with an article co-written by Jordan in which he said, “Alonzo’s weak in the mind. Alonzo’s an intimidator, but sometimes an intimidator can be intimidated. The bully can be bullied.”

“Your Highness has spoken,” Mourning said with a laugh after Miami’s sixth win in seven games.

He’d like to give another response against Chicago in the Eastern Conference finals. Miami reduced its magic number to three for clinching the Atlantic Division.

The Heat shot 56% and had only 14 turnovers. The Celtics lost for the eighth time in nine games.

Chicago 85, Orlando 70--Jordan didn’t provide much offense, but the Bulls didn’t need him at Orlando as they extended their winning streak to seven and their NBA-best record to 53-17.

In what may have been his last game at Orlando Arena, Jordan made only eight of 21 shots in 38 minutes.

Scottie Pippen led the Bulls with 23 points. Dennis Rodman didn’t take a shot until midway through the fourth quarter but had 18 rebounds for Chicago.

Seattle 133, Washington 109--The SuperSonics beat the Wizards for the 18th consecutive time at home and in so doing avenged a 95-78 loss on Dec. 2 in the opening game at the MCI Center in Washington.

Vin Baker scored 26 points and Detlef Schrempf added 21 as Seattle reached a season-high point total. The SuperSonics (52-17) moved a half-game ahead of the Utah Jazz in the battle for best record in the West.

Dallas 105, Denver 94--The Mavericks won for the fourth time in five games and handed the Nuggets their franchise-record 63rd loss.

With 11 games left, Denver needs two wins to avoid tying the worst record in NBA history--9-73 by the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers. The Nuggets have lost four in a row..

Houston 86, Indiana 81--The Rockets, despite not having Charles Barkley (shoulder injury) and Clyde Drexler (groin injury), held off the Pacers at Indianapolis.

The Rockets, who led, 80-70, with 3:22 left, survived an 11-2 Indiana run that cut their lead to 82-81 with 50 seconds to play. Hakeem Olajuwon scored to make it 84-81.

After Mark Jackson and Reggie Miller missed three-point shots in the closing seconds, Matt Maloney made two free throws to complete the scoring.

Detroit 103, San Antonio 94--The Pistons won their fourth in a row, matching their longest streak of the season and keeping them within striking distance of the Eastern Conference playoff contenders.

Grant Hill scored 24 points and Jerry Stackhouse had 22 for Detroit at Auburn Hills, Mich. The Pistons became the first team in 21 games to score 100 points against the Spurs.

Minnesota 99, Phoenix 97--Stephon Marbury scored six points and Anthony Peeler had four in the final 2:40 as the Timberwolves held on at Phoenix.

Peeler, who scored 20 points, made one free throw with 2.9 seconds left and missed the second.

The Suns rebounded and called time, but George McCloud threw the inbounds pass too far, forcing Jason Kidd to try a desperation jump hook that missed as the buzzer sounded.

New Jersey 91, Philadelphia 86--Keith Van Horn had 31 points, Kerry Kittles added 28 and the Nets forced 25 turnovers at Philadelphia.

Jayson Williams had 15 rebounds and 11 points for New Jersey, which is tied with Washington at 36-34 for the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.