Tim Duncan's first closeup look at Michael Jordan was similar to what he'd seen on videotape and TV. It's one he won't forget.
"I wouldn't say it was an honor, but it was great to be on the same floor with him, see what he does in person. It's not great we lost the game, but it is amazing to see him out there," the talented San Antonio rookie said.Duncan, in his third NBA game, got a glimpse of what many veterans have been watching for years - Jordan making the key plays in the closing seconds to rescue the Bulls.
On Monday night, however, he had to work overtime - two of them - to bring Chicago an 87-83 victory.
"It was pretty frustrating. We are two seconds away from winning, get a blocked shot, miss the rebound and it costs you the game," the Spurs' David Robinson said.
"My attitude was don't let him (Jordan) do it, let someone else beat us. You really feel stupid when you get beat by the guy who is supposed to beat you."
Jordan sent the game to overtime with a 3-pointer at the buzzer, seconds after Robinson blocked an earlier attempt. Jordan tied the game again with a jumper in the first overtime, and then in the second overtime, he scored three of the Bulls' final four points, including a jumper with 31 seconds left.
"It seemed like the only shots I could make were when someone was in my face. I kind of stunk it up in the first half. I didn't particularly play the game well," Jordan said after scoring 29 points on 12-of-39 shooting.
Following a timeout with 16 seconds left in regulation, Robinson blocked Jordan's first 3-point attempt, but the Bulls scrambled to keep the ball.
Jordan rebounded and the Bulls fed the ball to Toni Kukoc, whose 3-point attempt hit the front of the rim. Luc Longley snared the loose ball and got it to Jordan again. This time he hit his 3-pointer at the buzzer.
"I was trying to make my way out there and I was able to get one off. Luckily I was able to get a great look at it and knock it down," Jordan said.
Robinson had 21 points and 12 rebounds, whilr Duncan added 19 points and matched Chicago's Dennis Rodman with 22 rebounds. Longley had 17 points.
"I'm surprised we were in better shape than them at the end of the game. We really kept it going," Jordan said after the Bulls shot just 31 percent.
Chicago led by four in the second overtime, but Robinson dunked and Rodman drew a technical foul for lowering his shoulder into the back of his former teammate and knocking him to the floor. The Spurs got a free throw after the cheap shot.
Hornets 112, Heat 99
Glen Rice, who struggled in his first two games, scored 28 points as the Charlotte Hornets got their first victory of the season.
The Hornets, who lost their first two games, got 20 points from David Wesley and 16 points apiece from Matt Geiger and Del Curry.
Rice, the NBA's third-leading scorer last season with a 26.8 average, scored a total of only 21 points in his first two games. But he snapped out of his slump against his former team, making 11 of 17 shots from the field and grabbing eight rebounds.
Jamal Mashburn scored 18 points for Miami, which was bidding for a 3-0 start for only the second time in franchise history.