CHICAGO 111, NEW YORK 109


CHICAGO (AP) - Michael Jordan gave the crowd at the United Center plenty of photo opportunities Saturday night in what could have been his last regular-season game. He spent much of the night in a familiar pose -- at the free-throw line. "I got fouled. I guess that is when you go to the free-throw line," Jordan said after scoring 44 points to lead the Chicago Bulls past the New York Knicks 111-109.

Jordan moved toward his 10th NBA scoring title, going 22-of-24 from the free-throw line. He took a comfortable lead over Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal, who plays Sunday against Utah. Jordan finished with a 28.7 average. O'Neal is averaging 28.2 points and needs 59 points to overtake Jordan.

"I didn't know what I had to score. If I worry about that, I can't play my game. I just have to let it come to me and sooner or later it will fall into place," Jordan said. "If Shaq goes out and scores 100 ... good for him."

Jordan, who has not announced if he will come back next season or retire, said Saturday night's game was not an emotional experience, even if it did turn out to be one of his last games. Bulls coach Phil Jackson, who is not expected back, said his team used the game as a way of bidding farewell.

"This was our night to say goodbye to the team that put together three great regular seasons," Jackson said.

The Bulls, who finished 62-20 after winning 72 and 69 regular-season games the previous two seasons, will play either Washington or New Jersey in the first round of the playoffs. The Knicks, the seventh seed in the East, are headed to a first-round series against Miami.

Allan Houston led New York with 22 points, and Chris Mills had 19. Knicks forwards Larry Johnson (ankle) and Charles Oakley (rib cage) did not play, and center Patrick Ewing has been on the injured list since December following surgery for a broken wrist. Even depleted, the Knicks had a seven-point lead in the final quarter. But they couldn't overcome Chicago's 41-13 free throw advantage.

"They have a great ability to get the free throw line," New York coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "We were not trying to send them to the line."

Jordan's slicing basket with 3:03 left gave the Bulls a 103-102 lead. Steve Kerr hit a free throw after Mills was ejected after picking up his second technical foul. Jordan went 1-of-2 at the line for a three-point lead with 2:16 left. Toni Kukoc then made four free throws and Jordan two to preserve the victory. 



CHICAGO BULLS 111, New York Knicks 109



NEW YORK (109)
                      FG    FT   Reb
               Min   M-A   M-A   O-T   A  PF Pts
               ---   ---   ---   ---   -  -- ---
Bowie          29    8-11  0-0   1-2   1  6   16
Mills          45    8-17  3-5   1-7   3  0   19
B.Williams     33    6-7   0-0   6-8   1  4   12
Houston        32    9-19  4-4   0-2   2  5   22
Ward           41    5-11  2-3   0-7   17 3   13
Starks         13    1-6   0-0   0-1   1  3    3
Childs         24    2-4   4-6   0-2   4  6    8
Cummings       23    8-13  0-0   3-9   2  2   16
Totals         240   47-88 13-18 11-38 31 29 109
Percentages: FG .534, FT .722. 3-Point Goals: 2-12, .167 (Starks
1-3, Ward 1-6, Houston 0-1, Mills 0-2). Team Rebounds: 10.
Blocked shots: 3 (Bowie, Mills, Ward). Turnovers: 11 (Childs 5,
Cummings 2, Mills, Houston, Ward, Starks). Steals: 5 (Ward 3,
Mills, Houston). Technical fouls: Mills, 3:49 fourth; Mills 2:41
fourth. Ejection: Mills, 2:41 fourth. Illegal defense: None.

CHICAGO (111)
                      FG    FT   Reb
               Min   M-A   M-A   O-T   A  PF Pts
               ---   ---   ---   ---   -  -- ---
Pippen         33    6-12  8-11  1-7   10 4   21
Kukoc          30    4-10  7-8   1-5   1  4   15
Rodman         35    2-3   0-0   2-8   0  3    4
Harper         14    2-7   0-0   2-3   2  2    4
Jordan         40    11-24 22-24 0-3   3  1   44
Kerr           34    6-7   2-2   1-2   7  1   15
Burrell        21    3-8   0-0   1-3   1  0    6
Brown          13    0-3   1-2   0-2   1  1    1
Simpkins       13    0-1   1-2   0-2   1  2    1
Buechler       7     0-2   0-0   0-0   0  0    0
Totals         240   34-77 41-49 8-35  26 18 111
Percentages: FG .442, FT .837. 3-Point Goals: 2-11, .182 (Kerr
1-2, Pippen 1-3, Kukoc 0-1, Rodman 0-1, Harper 0-1, Buechler 0-1,
Burrell 0-2). Team Rebounds: 14. Blocked shots: 4 (Buechler 2,
Harper, Burrell). Turnovers: 9 (Pippen 3, Kukoc 2, Jordan, Kerr,
Simpkins, team). Steals: 5 (Rodman 3, Jordan, Brown). Technical
foul: Assistant coach Rodgers, 3:21 fourth. Illegal defense: 1.
-----------------------------
New York      27 26 35 21-109
Chicago       29 28 26 28-111
-----------------------------
A-24,182 (24,119). T-2:32. Officials-Bill Spooner, Steve Javie,
Ron Olesiak.

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