Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen have saved the Chicago Bulls plenty of times. Never as tag-team wrestlers, though.
Jordan and Pippen pulled Dennis Rodman away from a confrontation with Shaquille O'Neal in the closing seconds Tuesday night when the Bulls overcame an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter for a 129-123 overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers.Toni Kukoc scored 23 of his season-high 31 points in the fourth quarter and overtime for the Bulls, who trailed by 22 in the first half. Pippen had 35 points and Jordan had 30 on 10-of-32 shooting.
Nick Van Exel scored a season-high 36 points, O'Neal 27 and Eddie Jones 21 for the Lakers, whose five-game winning streak was snapped. O'Neal got only four points after halftime and missed two free throws in overtime.
Van Exel hit a 17-foot jumper with 56 seconds left in overtime to make it 123-123. Pippen then drove to the hoop and was credited with a basket when O'Neal blocked the shot on its way down.
Van Exel and Eddie Jones then missed 3-pointers. Rodman rebounded Jones' miss and, as he called for a timeout, he was mauled by Jerome Kersey. The two exchanged shoves, and O'Neal joined the fracas with a hard push on Rodman.
Rodman appeared ready to go at O'Neal, but was grabbed by Jordan and Pippen, who dragged him to the floor.
"It was a very crucial time of the game," Pippen said. "We needed him to keep his composure."
Kukoc scored 18 points in the fourth quarter, making several key 3-pointers, including two bombs over O'Neal.
Hawks 109, Mavericks 73
At Dallas, Mookie Blaylock made seven 3-point shots as Atlanta set an NBA record with 19 3-pointers.
Blaylock scored 27 points - 19 in the first half - for the Hawks, who won for the ninth time in the last 11 games.
Atlanta made 19 of 27 3-pointers to break the league record of 18 set twice last season by the Mavericks.
Grizzlies 93, Rockets 92
At Vancouver, Bryant Reeves made a 14-foot jumper with 5.8 seconds left as the Grizzlies outscored Houston 17-6 in the final 4:21.
Vancouver overcame a 10-point deficit in the final five minutes to end the Rockets' six-game winning streak and send Houston to just its third loss this season.
Hakeem Olajuwon, who led the Rockets with 23 points, missed an awkward 18-footer at the buzzer.
Rookie Shareef Abdur-Rahim led Vancouver with 22 points.
Pacers 103, Heat 89
At Miami, Antonio Davis scored 21 points for Indiana, which withstood a fourth-quarter rally by the Heat to end their four-game winning streak.
Tim Hardaway, who began the game as the Heat's leading scorer this season, departed late in the first quarter with the score 16-16. Indiana scored 15 of the next 17 points for a 31-18 advantage and led the rest of the way.
Hardaway was dribbling the ball near midcourt when he called timeout and collapsed on his back. He rose unsteadily to his feet and was helped to the locker room by two trainers. His status for Thursday's game against Utah was uncertain.
Raptors 97, Nets 88
Walt Williams scored 24 points and Damon Stoudamire had 14 of his 17 in the fourth quarter as Toronto won its first road game in nine tries this season.
Kerry Kittles led New Jersey with 27 points and Jayson Williams, the league's leading rebounder, had 18 rebounds despite playing with a splint on his injured thumb.
Hornets 93, 76ers 84
At Philadelphia, Muggsy Bogues tied his career high with 24 points as Charlotte won for the fifth time in six games.
It was Charlotte's second win in five nights over the 76ers, who lost their eighth straight.
Dell Curry had 20 points, 15 in the first half, and Anthony Mason added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Charlotte. Derrick Coleman scored a season-high 27 points for Philadelphia.
Sonics 123, Warriors 83
At Seattle, Hersey Hawkins scored a season-high 30 points and Gary Payton added 24 as the Sonics ended a three-game losing streak with their seventh straight win over Golden State.
The Warriors, who trailed by 33 points at halftime, lost Joe Smith 2:04 into the second half with a sprained left ankle when Seattle's Jim McIlvaine landed awkwardly on him near the Sonics' basket.
Latrell Sprewell had 26 points for Golden State.