Jordan, Perdue lead Bulls past Trail Blazers

CHICAGO (AP)—Michael Jordan awakened a sleepy Chicago offense in the fourth quarter and top draft choice Will Perdue hit two key baskets as the Bulls defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 102-98 Monday.

Jordan scored 33 points, including 12 in the final quarter. He hit five straight free throws at the end of the game.

The Bulls saw an 88-74 lead whittled to 97-92 with 1:03 left.

A 3-point field goal by Portland’s Terry Porter misfired and Jordan made two free throws with 25 seconds left, insuring the victory.

After a 3-point field goal by Portland’s Sam Bowie—who had 19 points—with 23 seconds left, Jordan made two more free throws with 17 seconds remaining.

With Chicago leading 76-70 early in the final quarter, Craig Hodges started the Bulls on a 12-4 burst with a 3-point field goal. Two straight hook shots by Perdue, who finished with a season-high nine points, gave the Bulls a 13-point lead, before Bowie scored.

Jordan made a slam dunk, Bowie another basket, then Jordan got an over-the-shoulder running hook and a free throw for an 88-74 advantage.

Porter rallied Portland with eight points during an 18-9 spurt that made it 97-92 edge.

The Bulls, winning for the third straight time, got 15 points from Horace Grant. Portland got 18 points from Kevin Duckworth and 17 from Porter.

The Bulls, despite being outrebounded badly on the offensive boards, held a 76-68 third-quarter lead. Portland outrebounded Chicago 16-6 on the offensive boards in the first three quarters.

Scottie Pippen’s 16 points, including the last four of the second period, helped Chicago to a 46-41 halftime lead.

Portland’s Clyde Drexler, the NBA’s No. 4 scorer (27.7 points), was out with a broken nose, while teammate Kiki Vandeweghe, averaging 14.6, has been in Los Angeles pending trade negotiations since the All-Star Game.