Jordan will point way for Bulls
By Staff Reports
Mar 29, 1989
The Chicago Bulls' new-found secret weapon - Michael Jordan,
point guard - has struck again.
Jordan turned in his sixth triple double of the season - with 33 points,
12 rebounds and 11 assists - as the Bulls defeated the Golden State Warriors
115-106 Tuesday night.
The Bulls' fifth consecutive victory made their record 8-2 since Jordan
made the switch to point guard. The move is the talk of the National
Basketball Association. Last week, Jordan was named NBA Player of the Week.
Jordan's new role as the Bulls' quarterback has given a
lift to his teammates while causing opposing teams to scramble
to come up with a remedy.
"I'm sure my new role has caused some problems, but to
be honest, I have a way to go," Jordan said after the game.
"I'm still learning."
Jordan said his point-guard play has made his teammates
more aggressive and caused problems for opposing defenses.
Jordan said his role is to look for cracks in the opponent's
defense and then either dish the ball off to the open man
or drive the lane.
"They haven't figured out how to beat it yet," Jordan
said.
Jordan's move to point guard came after he sat out a March
8 game against Boston with a groin injury and asked coach
Doug Collins to change his role.
In Tuesday's game, Bill Cartwright had 22 points and a game-high
15 rebounds, and Horace Grant had 20 points and 13 rebounds
for the Bulls.
In other games:
New York 128, Portland 124
Mark Jackson had 27 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists,
Kiki Vandeweghe scored 24 points and the New York Knicks
rallied in the fourth quarter.
Philadelphia 117, Boston 115, OT
Charles Barkley had 27 points and rookie Hersey Hawkins
scored eight of his 21 in overtime to pace the 76ers. Boston's
Reggie Lewis scored a career-high 39 points, and Brian Shaw
had 18 points and 14 rebounds.
Phoenix 127, LA Lakers 104
Tom Chambers scored 28 points, Kevin Johnson 24 and Eddie
Johnson had eight of his 21 in a decisive second quarter
as the Suns clinched their first playoff berth in four years.
Cleveland 102, Dallas 90
Ron Harper scored 15 of his 26 points during a rally late
in the third quarter, and the Cavaliers reached the 50-victory
mark for the first time in their 19 NBA seasons. Mark Price
added 21 points.
Houston 120, Seattle 117
Akeem Olajuwon scored 17 of his 36 points in the pivotal
fourth quarter. Olajuwon was one of six Rockets in double
figures. Others were Mike Woodson with 22, Walter Berry
18, Otis Thorpe and Buck Johnson 11 each and Sleepy Floyd
10.
San Antonio 130, Washington 114
Willie Anderson scored 29 points and Alvin Robertson 28
as the Spurs snapped a four-game losing streak. The Bullets
were led by Bernard King with 31 points.
New Jersey 111, Atlanta 108
Roy Hinson scored six of his 25 points in the last two minutes
as the Nets snapped a 10-game losing streak and a 16-game
losing streak against Atlanta.
NOTES
Boston's Jim Paxson underwent a successful operation on
his right wrist to repair torn ligaments Tuesday. Paxson
will miss the remainder of the season. . .
Los Anggeles Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was fined $500 today and
told to pay $840.35 in restitution for shoving an Italian tourist at a
Phoenix, Ariz., shopping mall last April.
