The Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings had a bonkers game offensively, compared to the first four contests of the gauntlet. The Bulls pulled out a 127-124 victory in overtime, ending the Kings’ three-game winning streak.
Michael Jordan scored 41 points and hit a shot at the regulation buzzer to send the game to overtime. Scottie Pippen had a monster stat line, with 26 points, 12 rebounds, eight steals and seven assists.
The Kings were led again by DeMarcus Cousins, who put together a huge 33-point, 20-rebound effort. Peja Stojakovic also had a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Sacramento’s efforts were hurt by the fact that Oscar Robertson and Mike Bibby both suffered game-ending injuries in the second half.
Over the game’s final 17 minutes (the fourth quarter and OT), the Bulls scored 52 points to the Kings’ 49.
The Bulls jumped out to a 7-2 lead (which would turn out to be their largest lead of the game), but the Kings took their first lead at 11-9 on a Stojakovic three-pointer. A basket by Chris Webber put the Kings up by five at 20-15, but the Bulls came right back with a 9-0 run. Sacramento regained the lead at 28-26 at the end of the first quarter. Jordan had 14 first-quarter points.
In the second quarter, the Kings built another five-point lead at 48-43 after Oscar Robertson scored. Sacramento led 58-55 at halftime. Cousins had 19 points and 11 rebounds at the break.
The Kings had another five-point lead in the third quarter at 63-58 after a Mitch Richmond basket. But the Bulls responded with a 6-0 run to take back the lead. It was tied at 75 at the end of the period.
Both teams couldn’t be stopped in the fourth quarter, as each squad scored 36 points. The Bulls scored the first four points of the quarter to go up 79-75. They would led by four on several other occasions. But, Sacramento fought back and regained the lead at 92-90 after a Chris Webber score, and the Kings went up by four after Stojakovic scored to make it 96-92.
A Jordan three-pointer broke a 99-99 tie with three minutes left, and the Bulls led by four at 105-101 with under two minutes to go. Jordan put Chicago ahead 109-107 in the final minute. But Cousins scored on the block, the Kings forced a turnover, and Cousins scored again with 10 seconds left to put Sacramento ahead 111-109. Jordan hit a jumper at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.
Stojakovic converted a four-point play at start of OT, and Archibald had a pair of baskets as the Kings scored eight of the first 10 points to take their biggest lead of the game at 119-113. The Bulls scored the next six points to tie it right back up. Cousins scored again to give the Kings a 121-119 advantage, but that would end up being their final lead of the contest. Pippen scored Chicago’s next six points as they went ahead 125-123. The Kings missed their next three shots, and Horace Grant iced the win with a basket on Chicago’s final possession.
Next up: the Cleveland Cavaliers.
ROGER SPORTS & GAMES 