In head-on meetings of division leaders, the Chicago Bulls won in a rout while the San Antonio Spurs uptook the narrow path.
The Bulls opened a 33-12 lead in the first quarter Tuesday night, then coasted to their 10th consecutive victory and 19th straight at Chicago Stadium, 129-99 over the Boston Celtics.At San Antonio, David Robinson's free throw with 1.9 seconds left in overtime lifted the Spurs over Portland 102-101, their second victory over the Blazers in three nights.
Robinson, who had 25 points and matched his career-high with 21 rebounds, grabbed a rebound of his own missed shot and was fouled by Jerome Kersey, a call that upset Terry Porter, who led Portland with 28 points.
"It was a questionable call all the way," Porter said. "And when a referee that's out of position makes it, it's even worse. You don't make those calls late in the game. But I guess you live and die by the call."
Michael Jordan had 39 points and Scottie Pippen scored 13 of his 33 points in Chicago's runaway first quarter against Boston, whose 40-15 record leads the Atlantic Division but is a half-game behind Chicago in the Eastern Conference.
"In my opinion, we have a championship team," Pippen said. "There will be nights I won't have a good game. But somebody else will step in. That's the way it's been."
Pippen, 14-for-18 from the field, is 30-for-35 his last two games. He had a career-high 43 on Saturday against Charlotte.
The Spurs, who also got 25 points from Sean Elliott, opened a 44-27 halftime lead by holding Portland to season-low outputs in the first quarter , second quarter and half. The Trail Blazers hit 12 of 43 shots, 28 percent, in the first half.
Cavaliers 106, Pistons 103
Two-time defending champion Detroit lost for the sixth time in nine games as Cleveland won at home behind Larry Nance's 25 points and Brad Daugherty's 20.
Nets 129, Pacers 104
New Jersey snapped Indiana's six-game winning streak as Derrick Coleman had 21 points and 13 rebounds at the Meadowlands.
Bucks 119, Heat 106
Dan Schayes tripled his scoring average for the second consecutive game, scoring 29 points in Milwaukee's victory at Miami.
Knicks 112, Bullets 109, 2OT
Patrick Ewing had 30 points and 20 rebounds and Gerald Wilkins scored 20 of his 26 points after halftime as New York improved its overtime record to 5-0.
Magic 131, Warriors 119
Rookie Dennis Scott matched his career high with 35 points and Jeff Turner scored a career-high 28 as Orlando won consecutive road games for the first time this season.
Rockets 129, Nuggets 99
Sleepy Floyd had 40 points and personally outscored Denver 22-19 in the third quarter as Houston won at Denver.
SuperSonics 93, Clippers 81
Seattle won at home against Los Angeles. Shooting guard Sedale Threatt scored a season-high 31 points for the Sonics.
Timberwolves 100, Mavericks 94
Minnesota used a 14-5 spurt late in the fourth quarter to win at home against Dallas.