Best-Laid Bull Plan Goes Awry as Hornets Win Sixth in Row

The Chicago Bulls failed to execute a play drawn up by Coach Tim Floyd in the closing seconds Saturday, allowing the Charlotte Hornets to escape with their sixth consecutive victory.

Elden Campbell scored 25 points and Eddie Jones added 23 as Charlotte defeated Chicago, 90-87, at Chicago.

“The Bulls aren’t going to lay down for anyone,” Jones said. “We tried to destroy their will in the first half, but it didn’t happen that way.”

A late sequence showed why Chicago is 14-58.

Down by three with 13 seconds left, Floyd designed a play that would either set up a three-point attempt or a quick inside shot for Elton Brand. But Corey Benjamin inbounded to the wrong man as the Bulls scrambled to follow Floyd’s instructions.

Chicago did get two points on a Brand dunk, but eight seconds had ticked off the clock.

“Corey Benjamin was supposed to inbound to Hersey Hawkins and play off Elton and then we would go for a kick-out three or get it inside to Elton and then foul,” Floyd said.

“But it didn’t happen that way.”

Jones said the Hornets expected a shot from the perimeter.

“We were going to give them anything but a three,” Jones said. “When they went inside, we were ecstatic.”

Chicago then fouled Jones, who sank two free throws. The Bulls had no timeouts left and could only muster a desperation shot from halfcourt as time expired.

Brand had 24 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls, who have lost four in a row, and fellow rookie Ron Artest scored 20.

Portland 113, Milwaukee 79--Damon Stoudamire scored a season-high 31 points and tied a franchise record with seven three-point baskets as the Trail Blazers won at Portland but lost Scottie Pippen to an eye injury.

Pippen left the game late in the first quarter after complaining of blurred vision. Pippen had been hit with an inadvertent elbow from teammate Jermaine O’Neal in Thursday night’s victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

Pippen played the first 11 minutes Saturday night, but came out after scoring four points. He went to the locker room and did not return, but he’s expected to play tonight against Seattle.

Sam Cassell scored 22 to lead the Bucks, who had won two in a row for the first time since Jan. 29-31. Milwaukee fell 2 1/2 games behind idle Orlando for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Houston 115, Atlanta 93--Cuttino Mobley scored 24 points, Kenny Thomas had 18 points and 22 rebounds, and Kelvin Cato added 21 points and 15 rebounds as the Rockets defeated the Hawks at Houston.

Thomas, who tied his career best with six assists, and Cato both set set career highs for rebounds.

The Rockets won for the fourth time in their last six games, and ended a three-game losing streak to Atlanta.

Jim Jackson scored 21 points for the Hawks, who have lost nine of 11 games.

Denver 112, Utah 92--Antonio McDyess scored 33 points, Nick Van Exel 27 and rookie James Posey 20 as the Nuggets cruised past the Jazz at Denver.

The Nuggets outscored the Jazz in every quarter and never trailed, withstanding Utah rallies in the third and fourth periods.

Raef LaFrentz had 11 rebounds and McDyess 10 for the Nuggets, who ended a three-game losing streak to the Jazz.

Karl Malone had 27 points and 13 rebounds for Utah, and Bryon Russell added 17 points.

Utah Coach Jerry Sloan was ejected after drawing his second technical foul with 2:46 left in the game.

Utah, trailing 47-39 at the half, mounted a 10-2 run early in the third period to get within two points. Baskets by Malone kept the Jazz close, but Posey made consecutive three-pointers to make it 63-53 with 5:35 left in the quarter.

Russell had consecutive three-pointers early in the final quarter during Utah’s 9-0 run that got the Jazz within 86-74, and another Russell three-pointer made it 92-83 with 6:14 left. But the Jazz got no closer as Denver fashioned a 9-0 flurry, including two rebound baskets by McDyess.

Cleveland 109, Boston 103--Shawn Kemp overcame a poor start to score 22 points and grab 14 rebounds, leading the Cavaliers to a victory over the Celtics at Cleveland.

Kemp, who missed his first five shots, scored eight points in the fourth quarter as Cleveland repeatedly drove to the basket, making layups or earning free throws. The Cavaliers made 13 of 15 from the line in the quarter.

Paul Pierce scored 22 points to lead Boston, which lost its seventh in a row and is seven games out of the final playoff spot with nine games to play.

Cedric Henderson scored a season-high 20 points in 24 minutes for Cleveland.