It Takes Time, but Jordan (49) Takes It Over

After watching the Clippers lose 10 of their first 11 games, Hall of Fame coach Jack Ramsay said the Clippers look like a CBA team.

But the Clippers didn’t play like the least talented team in the NBA against the five-time NBA champion Chicago Bulls, taking the Bulls to two overtimes before losing, 111-102, before a sellout crowd of 16,199 Friday night at the Sports Arena.

Michael Jordan, who walked off the court with his head down after missing 11 of 14 shots in the first half as the Clippers took a 42-41 lead, scored a season-best 49 points as the Bulls extended the Clippers’ losing streak to eight.

Jordan outscored the Clippers, 9-0, in the second five-minute overtime period as the Bulls registered their eighth consecutive victory against the Clippers here.

Jordan made a jump shot with 8.9 seconds remaining after missing two free throws to force a second overtime at 102-102. Jordan, who made only 10 of 16 free throws, got his own rebound and made the shot after he intentionally missed the second free throw.

Jordan made 18 of 38 shots, including a jump shot with 30.1 seconds remaining in the first five-minute overtime period to cut the Bulls’ deficit to 102-100.

The Clippers called a timeout with 20.5 seconds remaining, but Lamond Murray was called for a backcourt violation on the inbounds play.

Murray, who languished on the bench last season, scored a team-high 24 points before fouling out in the second overtime.

Murray’s three-point play with 58 seconds left in the first overtime gave the Clippers a 100-97 lead. It reached 102-98, but that was all L.A. scored.

Guard Brent Barry, who returned to the game with 3:17 remaining in the final quarter after suffering a knee injury with 27.5 seconds left in the third quarter, made two free throws with 10.5 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime tied at 92-92.

Barry, who missed seven of 11 shots and scored 17 points, helped the Clippers overcome a three-point deficit in the final 1:17.

The Bulls had a chance to win it in regulation, but Jordan missed a fall-away jump shot in the final second.

Grounded for the first three quarters, Air Jordan finally took off in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 of the Bulls’ final 13 points as the Bulls overcame a five-point deficit in the final 5:26.

Coach Phil Jackson complained that the Bulls were flat after they lost for the fourth time in four road games, 89-85, at Phoenix on Thursday night.

“The guys have no energy,� Jackson said. “They’re just going through the motions.�

The Bulls looked like they were playing in slow motion in the first half, falling behind by 18 points in the second quarter.

The Bulls came into the game shooting 41.1% and averaging 82 points on the road compared to 44.8% and 91.6 points at home.

Fitch had hinted that he might change his starting lineup after the Clippers surrendered a season-worst 45 points in Wednesday night’s 122-113 loss at Miami.

Fitch, who said that he might pull names out of a hat to pick his starting lineup, started Pooh Richardson at point guard in place of Darrick Martin, Wright in place of center Stojko Vrankovic and Murray in place of Loy Vaught, who sat out the game because of back spasms.

Although Fitch refused to criticize Vrankovic, he had no choice but to bench him, after only 20 points and 11 rebounds in his last five games.

Wright, who played a team-high 35 minutes against the Heat after twisting his right ankle in the in final minute of Tuesday night’s 112-94 loss at Orlando, had eight points in the first quarter as the Clippers took a 27-14 lead after 12 minutes.

Martin, who replaced Richardson a month into last season, got off to an awful start this season, shooting 30.2%. Martin played a season-low seven minutes in his last game.

Richardson made a 25-foot shot at the end of the first quarter to bring the sellout crowd to its feet.

Dennis Rodman, who had 14 rebounds and 10 points, drew a flagrant foul with 12 seconds left in the second quarter for knocking Barry to the court.