There was no Michael Jordan flying around Chicago Stadium to bail out the Chicago Bulls. But there was, as usual, Scottie Pippen, and that's why the Bulls got off to a running start in a bid for a fourth straight NBA title.
As he has all season, Pippen was there to take over the lead role. His support came from an unlikely source - Scott Williams - as the Bulls beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-96 Friday night."They couldn't stop me tonight. It was my night," said Williams, who had 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, complementing a 31-point, 12-rebound effort by Pippen.
"We're all going to have to step up during these games. There is no MJ. Scottie had a big night and we played good defense on Mark Price. Everybody chipped in," Williams added.
The Cavaliers played without the heart of their inside game as John "Hot Rod" Williams, Brad Daugherty and Larry Nance watched from the bench in street clothes because of injuries.
And Price, Cleveland's leading scorer averaging 17.3, managed just nine points under tough defense from B.J. Armstrong.
Gerald Wilkins led Cleveland with 23 points. Game 2 in the best-of-5 series is Sunday in Chicago Stadium.
"In this series you can't afford to lose a game," Pippen said. "They had nothing to lose and they showed it by the way they played. Our defense was the key in the stretch. We pushed, got some easy baskets and once we were able to get a lead, we were able to maintain it and pull away."
Pippen led a third-quarter surge and then had two spectacular baskets in the fourth quarter. His 31 points were one short of a career playoff high.
"Scottie was big for them," Wilkins said. "We have to focus a little more on controlling him and we will be there.
"Scott Williams gave them a big lift, the one guy we didn't expect to do that. He came prepared and picked up where (Horace) Grant was leaving off. We were undermanned. But we were right there and we know we can beat them with what we got."
Luc Longley's dunk, Pippen's assist to Grant for a layup after a length-of-the-floor dribble and Pippen's three-point play highlighted an 11-4 run in the third quarter as the Bulls opened an eight-point lead.
Knicks 91, Nets 80
At New York, Patrick Ewing, surrounded by defenders for most of the game, led a decisive 10-0 fourth-quarter run that boosted the New York Knicks to victory over the New Jersey Nets in their playoff opener.
The Knicks, with Ewing missing 13 of his first 17 shots, trailed 68-64 before the veteran center started the winning burst with a three-point play. Charles Smith put New York ahead with a layup, and when he missed the ensuing free throw, Ewing made it 71-68 with an emphatic rebound dunk.
Ewing finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Derrick Coleman scored 27 points for the Nets.
Rockets 114, Trail Blazers 104
At Houston, Vernon Maxwell broke out of a shooting drought with 10 consecutive Houston points late in the game, leading the Rockets to a victory over Portland in their NBA playoff opener.
The Rockets were protecting a 97-95 lead with 5:20 to play when Maxwell - who scored 24 points and hit five 3-pointers - started his decisive charge. He hit consecutive 3-point baskets and then two jumpers, giving Houston a 107-98 lead with 2:39 to play.
Maxwell hit his first four baskets of the game, but then missed six of his next seven before heating up again.
Suns 111, Warriors 104
At Phoenix, Charles Barkley put back a missed free throw with 16 seconds left, then stole the ball from Chris Webber and made two free throws as Phoenix dodged a Game 1 upset with a victory over Golden State.
Barkley finished with 36 points and 19 rebounds as the Suns went ahead 1-0 in the best-of-5 series that resumes Sunday at America West Arena.
Billy Owens had 27 points and 17 rebounds for Golden State, and Latrell Sprewell had 22 points and 10 assists. Webber had 14 points and eight rebounds against Barkley.