Michael Jordan scored a game-high 19 points as the Chicago Bulls took an early lead and then held on to beat the Miami Heat 115-107 in NBA exhibition action in Buffalo, N.Y. The Bulls were 11-of-15 from the floor Thursday in the game's first eight minutes and built a 22-8 lead over the Heat, who shot 29 percent during that time.
With the Bulls' starters long on the bench, Miami rallied from a 23-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter. Billy Thompson, Pat Cummings and Scott Haffner helped the Heat close the gap to 105-97 with three minutes left.
But B.J. Armstrong finished with eight of Chicago's last 14 points to save the win.
Haffner and Kevin Edwards led the Heat with 16 points each, while Grant Long had 14. John Paxson had 17 points for the Bulls. The Bulls are 7-0 in preseason, while Miami fell to 2-3. Suns 100, Pistons 85 At Las Vegas, Kevin Johnson scored 22 points and Tom Chambers 18 as Phoenix beat Detroit.
Phoenix turned the tables on the NBA's best defensive team last year, holding the defending NBA Champions to 33 percent field goal shooting.
Phoenix won its third straight to even its preseason mark at 3-3, and halted a four-game win streak by Detroit (4-2).
The game matched the Suns, the NBA's highest-scoring team last year, with the Pistons, which allowed opponents the fewest points per game last season. Phoenix bested Detroit at the half-court game Detroit used to go all the way last season, taking a 46-43 halftime lead.
"That was significant, but we did what we had to do in order to win," Suns coach Cotton Fitzsimmons said. "I think my team can play any way and win. I'd prefer that we play full-speed-ahead, but if the referees are going to let people hold Kevin Johnson, it makes it awfully tough to do that."
The Suns outscored Detroit 27-19 in the third quarter to take command with a 73-62 edge.
"We came out in the second half and really got after them," Fitzsimmons said. "We never backed off. We were playing the world champs and it was important to us to play well."
James Edwards, making a rare start, led the Pistons with 23 points. No other Pistons player reached double figures in scoring. Knicks 103, Timberwolves 100 At New Haven, Conn., Rod Strickland's layup with 2:46 left in overtime proved to be the game-winner as the New York Knicks defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves sent the game into overtime when Tony Campbell's layup with 35 seconds left tied the score 94-94.
Pete Myers hit two free throws and Mark Jackson scored on a 3-point goal to give the Knicks a 99-94 lead in overtime.
The Timberwolves rallied and took a 100-99 lead on a Scott Roth layup.
Gerald Wilkins led New York with 19. Patrick Ewing added 18. Minnesota was led by Don Royal's 25 points and Campbell's 22.