Strange day indeed. Let's see: The Chicago Bulls lost by 32 points, Shaquille O'Neal made his foul shots, Isaiah Rider's mom had to shoo him off the court.
Want more?The Seattle SuperSonics lost at home. The Toronto Raptors had the highest point total of the 26 teams in action. The Los Angeles Clippers won another road game. The Sacramento Kings won.
Sunday was a day to remember. One of the busiest on the NBA schedule, it featured surprises and mega-surprises, embarrassing moments and heroic ones.
Nothing was more unexpected than at Madison Square Garden, where the New York Knicks, a team in turmoil, sent the Bulls to a season-worst loss, 104-72.
Making matters even more inconceivable, coach Phil Jackson said the Knicks' unsettled coaching situation is affecting his thinking on a contract extension with the Bulls, and Michael Jordan came out and said he wants to play wherever Jackson coaches next season (see story on Page D8).
Not as surprising but more bizarre was the scene at the Utah Jazz-Minnesota Timberwolves game. Rider, ejected by referee Ken Mauer with 1:43 left in the first half, refused to leave.
As teammate Doug West tried to coax him to the exit, Rider's mother, who was sitting courtside, walked onto the court and spoke to Rider from a distance. She made it halfway across the court before Rider turned and left. (See story on Page D1 by Deseret News sports writer Richard Evans.)
Knicks 104, Bulls 74
New York sent the Bulls to just their seventh loss of the season, by far the most lopsided.
After blowing a 17-point first-half lead, New York had runs of 18-4 and 19-4 in the second half. The latter put the Knicks ahead 88-62 less than four minutes into the fourth quarter, and they led by as many as 34 before it was over.
Derek Harper had four 3-pointers and 16 of his 23 points in the third quarter. Patrick Ewing added 26 points and 14 rebounds to give Jeff Van Gundy his first victory as coach of the Knicks.
Magic 122, Suns 106
Orlando set an NBA record for consecutive regular-season home victories with its 39th in a row. O'Neal had 15 of his team-high 25 points in the fourth quarter to break open a close game.
Spurs 106, SuperSonics 105
San Antonio pulled it out despite a botched inbounds pass and two missed free throws by David Robinson, all in the final six seconds. Gary Payton missed an off-balance jump shot as time expired, giving Seattle its third loss in 29 home games.
Robinson had 36 points, 13 rebounds and five blocked shots as the Spurs won their sixth in a row.
Raptors 128, Mavericks 112
At Toronto, the Raptors had their highest scoring half of the season, 64 in the first, then matched it in the second. Damon Stoudamire had 25 points, Sharone Wright 21, Tracy Murray 20.
Clippers 104, 76ers 102
At Philadelphia, the Clippers won for the third time in four games on a five-game road trip.
Vernon Maxwell's desperation 30-footer would have given the Sixers victory, but officials ruled it left his hand after the final buzzer.
Kings 96, Warriors 95
At Oakland, Calif., Mitch Richmond banked in a 3-pointer from the right side with :00.2 left to give Sacramento just its second victory in 14 games.
Trail Blazers 113, Pacers 108, 2OT
At Indianapolis, Clifford Robinson capped a 37-point performance by scoring all five points of the second overtime. Robinson, a 62.5 percent free-throw shooter, was 13-for-13 from the line, including two that clinched the victory with 2.7 seconds left.
Rockets 95, Grizzlies 89
At Vancouver, Hakeem Olajuwon scored 42 points and grabbed 18 rebounds as Houston sent the Grizzlies to their 11th consecutive loss.
Nets 99, Nuggets 88
At Denver, Armon Gilliam and Chris Childs each scored 24 points, and the Nets won on the Nuggets' home court for only the second time in 23 games since both teams jumped from the ABA to the NBA.
Heat 88, Cavaliers 81
At Miami, Rex Chapman sank a 3-pointer with 1:53 left as his coach was screaming for a timeout, then added four straight free throws in the final minute as the Heat won their third in a row.
Bullets 99, Hawks 91
At Landover, Md., Gheorghe Muresan scored 27 points and Washington won for the fourth time in five games to stay two games behind Charlotte for the final East playoff berth.
Celtics 110, Bucks 103
At Milwaukee, ex-Buck Todd Day scored 28 points to lead the Celtics to their second victory in eight days over the Bucks. Milwaukee has lost four in a row.