New Era Begins With Loss and Empty Seats for Bulls

The Chicago Bulls got their first taste of life without Michael, Scottie and Dennis, losing to the Indiana Pacers, 79-71, Sunday at Chicago in the NBA’s opening preseason game following the end of the lockout.

Reggie Miller, whose past included spirited physical and verbal confrontations with Michael Jordan, and Rik Smits scored 12 points each to lead the Pacers.

In Tim Floyd’s first game as Bulls coach, it was hardly a rematch of last spring’s rugged seven-game Eastern Conference final between the two rivals, won by the Bulls on the same floor.

Seats were free Sunday. And without Jordan (retired), Scottie Pippen (traded to Houston) and Dennis Rodman (unsigned free agent), there were empty seats throughout the United Center. The Bulls have had 447 consecutive sellouts at home during the regular season and 542 counting playoffs.

“In our minds we’re still coming here to play the Bulls no matter if they have 23, 33 or 91,” said Miller, recalling the numbers worn by Jordan, Pippen and Rodman.

“We had no control over Michael returning. It’s not our fault Scottie didn’t come back and sign here,” Miller said.

Chicago’s leading scorer was another reserve, Kornel David, who had 12 points, two more than Toni Kukoc.

Meanwhile, the Bulls were reportedly close to signing free-agent guard Brent Barry to a $27-million, six-year contract.

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The Miami Heat bolstered their bench by signing Clarence Weatherspoon to a three-year contract, and they could be in the market for another free-agent forward: Rodman.

The mercurial former Chicago Bull star recently expressed an interest in playing for Miami or Orlando. Heat Coach Pat Riley said he hasn’t pursued Rodman but didn’t rule it out.

“I’m thinking about it,” Riley said. “I don’t know if he’s messing around, if he’s serious or whatever. It wouldn’t be my decision. I’ll put it to the team.”

The Heat could offer Rodman only $1 million, but only the Bulls are in a position to offer him much more than $1.75 million, and he’s unlikely to re-sign with them.

The Heat used their $1.75 million salary-cap exception on Weatherspoon, who averaged 9.3 points last season for the Golden State Warriors.

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Free-agent forward Dennis Scott agreed to a $1-million contract with the New York Knicks, who waived guard Lawrence Moten three days after signing him.

Scott, 30, averaged 11 points and three rebounds last season with Dallas and Phoenix. Scott is fifth on the NBA’s career list in three-pointers with 1,106 and holds the single-season record of 267.

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Johnny Newman, a free-agent forward who played for the Denver Nuggets last season, signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time.

Contract details were not disclosed.

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Vancouver Grizzly guard Lee Mayberry will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle and will be sidelined at least two months, the team announced.