Few expected the Chicago Bulls to be able to win 10 consecutive games after Michael Jordan retired.
Probably just as unlikely was the Charlotte Hornets snapping the Bulls' winning streak with Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning sidelined with injuries.Mourning, the team's leading scorer, and Johnson, an All-Star forward, combine to average 40 points per game for the Hornets, more than one-third of their offense.
But Charlotte got 28 points and five 3-pointers from Dell Curry and 26 points and 12 rebounds from Hersey Hawkins in a 115-95 rout of the Bulls Thursday night.
"We all knew we had to pick it up with Larry and Alonzo out of the game," said rookie Scott Burrell, who started for Johnson and had 11 points and five steals. "We did that. We needed to make quick cuts, and our small lineup worked against them. We felt comfortable."
Kenny Gattison started in Mourning's spot and had 13 points.
The Hornets placed Johnson on the injured list before the game with a strained lower back. Mourning sat out with a sprained right ankle, and the Bulls played without starting power forward Horace Grant because of a bronchial infection.
Celtics 119, Clippers 111
Boston ended a seven-game losing streak and a nine-game loss skein on the road as Sherman Douglas scored 10 of his 15 points during an 18-6 run in the first 61/2 minutes of the fourth quarter at Los Angeles.
Rockets 110, Timberwolves 104
Houston, losers of three of four games after a 22-1 start, won at Minnesota behind Hakeem Olajuwon's 34 points, 10 rebounds, eight blocks and five steals.
Suns 119, 76ers 107
Phoenix improved its home record to 14-1 as Oliver Miller scored a career-high 32 points on 12-for-14 shooting against Philadelphia.
Charles Barkley and Danny Ainge scored 22 points each for the Suns, and Barkley also had 14 rebounds and 12 assists for his first triple-double of the season and 18th of his career.
Bucks 105, Cavaliers 103
Milwaukee won for the third time in 12 home games and snapped Cleveland's five-game winning streak as Frank Brickowski scored 22 points, including two free throws with 2.6 seconds left.
Nuggets 101, Warriors 96
Denver won its ninth consecutive home game and fifth straight overall, beating Golden State when Robert Pack hit two free throws with 14 seconds left.
Magic 108, Heat 100
Orlando won at Miami behind Shaquille O'Neal's 27 points, 19 rebounds and five blocked shots.
Knicks 102, Bullets 84
John Starks snapped an eight-game scoring slump with 29 points and Patrick Ewing added 24 as New York defeated visiting Washington.
Kings 97, Pistons 91
Sacramento won its second straight road game after a 1-11 start as Wayman Tisdale had 21 points and Lionel Simmons scored nine of his 15 in a third-quarter spurt that sent Detroit to its sixth straight loss.
Spurs 107, Pacers 82
Dale Ellis scored 16 of his 21 points in the third quarter as San Antonio handed the Pacers' their fifth consecutive defeat.