NBA ROUNDUP : Bulls Start Shorthanded, but Kings Finish on Short End, 119-101

The Chicago Bulls’ starting lineup was looking good.

Starters Horace Grant, Bill Cartwright and John Paxson--all sidelined because of injuries--sat on the bench in their best business suits while Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen took care of business on the court Monday with a 119-101 victory over the Sacramento Kings.

“The team had so many suits on our bench with the guys injured, it looked like we had more suits than uniforms,� Coach Phil Jackson said.

Jordan scored 20 of his 32 points during the second quarter. Jordan and Pippen, who had 26 points, led a decisive run bridging the third and fourth quarters as the Bulls ended a three-game home losing streak.

Scott Williams, playing because Grant has a bruised lower back, had 10 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots.

With Cartwright also having a sore back and Paxson resting a sore knee, Stacey King and B.J. Armstrong also filled in as starters.

“We’ve been struggling at home (16-8) and we need more games like this,� Jordan said. “We’re trying to cover the loopholes with key players missing.�

Chicago didn’t take charge until the closing moments of the third quarter, when long-range baskets by Jordan and Pippen gave the Bulls an 85-78 lead.

Pippen and Jordan scored the first nine points of the final quarter to give Chicago a 16-point lead.

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Miami 130, Denver 129--Glen Rice made two free throws with 11 seconds left in the second overtime and the Miami Heat, after six consecutive overtime losses this season, beat the Nuggets at Miami.

Steve Smith had 21 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds for the Heat--the second triple-double in franchise history--before fouling out during the second overtime.

Reggie Williams, who scored 25 points for the Nuggets, stole the ball and his field goal tied the score with 54 seconds remaining.

After a free throw by Rice, Chris Jackson, who had 27 points for Denver, scored to give the Nuggets a 129-128 lead with 29 seconds left.

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Cleveland 110, Indiana 105--Mark Price had 25 points and John (Hot Rod) Williams scored four points during a four-second span late in the game at Richfield, Ohio, and the Cavaliers handed the Pacers their seventh consecutive defeat.

Rick Smits’ tip-in gave the Pacers a 104-102 lead with 36 seconds to play, but Williams sank two free throws with 23 seconds remaining, stole the inbound pass and made a layup with 19 seconds remaining.

Reggie Miller and Pooh Richardson each scored 24 points for the Pacers.

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Utah 112, Minnesota 91--Karl Malone scored 16 of his 38 points during the third quarter and the Jazz beat the Timberwolves for the third time this season at Minneapolis.

Malone made 16 of 20 shots, including all seven he took during the third quarter. Chuck Person scored 26 points for Minnesota.

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Milwaukee 128, Charlotte 122--Frank Brickowski scored 20 points and the Bucks beat the Hornets at Milwaukee. Jon Barry scored 18 points for Milwaukee, including 12 during the fourth quarter, when he made two three-pointers. Alonzo Mourning had 29 points, 12 rebounds and six blocked shots, and Dell Curry added 24 points for Charlotte.