Bulls Jolt Cleamons’ Memory

Jim Cleamons saw what he’s been missing.

Michael Jordan scored 36 points, Scottie Pippen added 32 and Dennis Rodman grabbed 19 rebounds Friday night to lead Chicago to a 116-97 victory over the Dallas Mavericks and former Bull assistant Cleamons.

Cleamons was a subordinate under Phil Jackson for seven years and earned four championship rings. But the Maverick coach had no answer for handling the top three stars of the NBA champions in the game at Dallas.

“They, indeed, are still the world champions,� Cleamons said. “I’m accustomed to seeing it. We were a little shell-shocked and distracted in the first half. We were the straight man to their comic routine. I’ve been in that locker room for seven years and I know their mentality. They were outstanding.�

Jordan made the first shot of the game, a three-pointer, and the Bulls were off and running. Rodman had 12 rebounds in the first quarter and Jordan 13 points as Chicago jumped to a 26-15 lead.

Jordan is only 35 points from the 25,000 plateau.

Philadelphia 100, Orlando 91--Derrick Coleman scored 19 points, Jerry Stackhouse added 16 and Doug Overton gave the 76ers a boost off the bench at Philadelphia.

Allen Iverson had 14 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds for Philadelphia but was benched in favor of Overton in the third quarter when he committed five of his seven turnovers.

Indiana 104, Vancouver 94--Reggie Miller scored 25 points and three Pacers reserves scored in double figures at Indianapolis.

Jalen Rose had 17 points, Duane Ferrell added 14 and Antonio Davis had 10 and 11 rebounds. Indiana’s reserves combined for 49 points.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim led the Grizzlies with 20 points. Greg Anthony added 18 and George Lynch had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Houston 120, Boston 94--Matt Maloney and Charles Barkley each scored 18 points and the Rockets beat the Celtics at Boston to run their record to 14-1.

Houston never trailed and placed seven players in double figures. Hakeem Olajuwon scored 17 points and pulled down 13 rebounds, and Mario Elie had eight assists to go along with 10 points.

Dino Radja had 18 points and Antoine Walker had 12 points and seven rebounds for Boston, which had its two-game winning streak snapped.

Atlanta 110, Washington 81--Dikembe Mutombo scored a season-high 25 points and Mookie Blaylock hit seven three-pointers as the Hawks routed the Bullets at Atlanta. It was the Hawks’ fourth win in five games.

Mutombo also grabbed 15 rebounds, blocked five shots and had two steals, dominating his matchup against 7-foot-7 Washington center Gheorghe Muresan.

Minnesota 108, Denver 103--Stephon Marbury scored 30 points, a career high, and Tom Gugliotta added 24 as the Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets for the first time in 13 games.

The Nuggets, playing at Denver, lost their second in a row despite 34 points from Antonio McDyess, a high in his career.

Seattle 105, Phoenix 92--Gary Payton scored 10 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and Shawn Kemp added 25 points and 13 rebounds as the SuperSonics won for the 13th time in 14 games.

It was also the SuperSonics’ sixth consecutive victory over the Suns.

Danny Manning came off the bench in the game at Seattle and led the Suns with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Steve Nash added 12 points, 10 in the fourth quarter.

Portland 119, Golden State 93--Gary Trent scored 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter and grabbed 10 rebounds in the game at Portland.

Rasheed Wallace, who scored 32 points in his first game against Golden State this season, had 20 points and 12 rebounds.

Six Trail Blazers scored in double figures, and Portland won for the sixth time in seven games to improve its November record to 10-6, its best start since 1990-91.