In the glare of playing the two-time defending champion Chicago Bulls, the San Antonio Spurs wanted to shine.
"It's one of those games where you get a little bit of everything," said David Robinson, who scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds Sunday to lead the Spurs to a 103-99 victory over the Bulls. "You get to see who can play with the lights on, and it's good to see that our team can still play when the light's on."Dale Ellis scored 20 points, including a 3-pointer with 57 seconds remaining, and the Spurs set a club record with their ninth straight victory.
The lights have been on the Spurs ever since John Lucas took over as coach when the club was foundering under uninspired and unprepared Jerry Tarkanian. San Antonio is 14-2 under Lucas after going 10-11 with Tarkanian at the helm.
The Spurs have not lost since Jan. 5 and seven of their victories since then have been by 10 or more points.
"We really feel we're that good (to earn the league's best record)," Spurs forward Sean Elliot said. "We're not going to play second fiddle to anybody."
The Spurs' string could have snapped Sunday, but Michael Jordan missed an open 12-footer that would have tied it with three seconds to go.
Jordan finished with 42 points for the Bulls, who lost the opener of a nine-game, 16-day road trip. The Bulls, who are 5-6 since Jan. 2, dropped to 27-13. The two-time defending champions did not suffer their 13th loss last season until March 21.
Avery Johnson, who Tarkanian said was not good enough to play point guard for the Spurs, added 15 assists and 11 points for San Antonio.
San Antonio led 95-90 with 2:33 left before Chicago ran off six straight points to take its first lead, 96-95. Ellis responded with a 3-pointer to put the Spurs up 98-96. Johnson and Elliott each hit two free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.
Elsewhere in the NBA, New Jersey hounded Houston 100-83, the L.A. Clippers thrashed Seattle 116-95, Miami dumped Dallas 122-106 and the L.A. Lakers bumped Washington 112-110 in overtime.
Nets 100, Rockets 83
At East Rutherford, N.J., Drazen Petrovic scored 32 of his career-high 44 points in the second half to help New Jersey snap Houston's win streak at eight games. Petrovic, whose previous career-high was 39 points, came within eight points of a New Jersey franchise mark shared by Ray Williams and Mike Newlin. Derrick Coleman added 23 points for New Jersey, which won for the sixth time in eight games. Hakeem Olajuwon scored 22 points and Vernon Maxwell added 19 for the Rockets.
LA Clippers 116, SuperSonics 95
At Los Angeles, Ron Harper scored 24 points and Danny Manning added 23 to pace the Clippers, who shot a season-high 60 percent and handed the SuperSonics their most lopsided loss of the season. Los Angeles won for only the fourth time in 11 games. Shawn Kemp scored 16 points and pulled down 13 rebounds and Eddie Johnson added 14 points for Seattle, which lost for just the fourth time in 19 games and was held to a season-low 32 percent from the floor.
Heat 122, Mavericks 106
At Miami, Glen Rice scored 31 points and Rony Seikaly chipped in 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to help Miami send Dallas to its 17th straight road loss. Bimbo Coles added 16 points and dished off 10 assists and Steve Smith contributed 15 points off the bench for Miami, which won back-to-back games for just the third time this season. Derek Harper scored 24 points and Randy added 17 for Dallas, which dropped its third straight and 18 of its last 19. Six Dallas players scored in double figures.
Lakers 112, Bullets 110
At Landover, Md., James Worthy scored 25 points and A.C. Green added 22 Sunday to help Los Angeles rally from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit. The Lakers snapped a losing string at three games and handed Washington its fifth straight loss. Green pulled down 15 rebound for the Lakers. Harvey Grant topped the Bullets with 23 points and LaBradford Smith added 20. Washington has lost three straight home games and nine of its last 12 at home.