Jordan keeps Bulls from falling to Clippers

Game flow

LOS ANGELES -- Michael Jordan scored 40 points and Scottie Pippen added 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter as the Chicago Bulls rebounded from their first loss of the season with an 88-84 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Jordan

Jordan, who scored nine points in the fourth quarter, recorded his 147th career 40-point regular-season effort. Pippen grabbed 11 rebounds and Toni Kukoc contributed 13 points for Chicago, which bounced back from a loss in Utah on Saturday and improved to a league-best 13-1.

Dennis Rodman grabbed 14 rebounds for the Bulls, who were playing the fourth game of a seven-game road trip and improved to 7-1 on the road. They are 95-13 in their last 108 regular-season games, and 96-15 since Michael Jordan returned.

Chicago was playing without starting center Luc Longley, who separated his left shoulder in a bizarre swimming accident on Sunday. He will undergo an examination on Tuesday to reveal the severity of the injury.

Stanley Roberts had 15 points and eight rebounds and Loy Vaught added 14 and 13 for the Clippers, who lost to Chicago at home for the seventh straight time and fell to 3-19 in their last 22 meetings against the Bulls.

The crowd of 16,144 represented the Clippers' first sellout of the season, establishing a Clipper Arena record for basketball.

The Bulls, who trailed by as many as 11 points in the second quarter, pulled within 51-45 at the half before tying the game at 64 late in the third quarter.

After Vaught dunked to give the Clippers a 66-64 lead to end the third quarter, Jordan made a basket that ignited a 17-4 run to start the fourth quarter. Jordan scored eight points during the stretch and Pippen added six during the burst. Jordan hit a 12-footer to cap the spurt and give the Bulls an 81-70 cushion.

Dennis Rodman's only basket of the game, a dunk 50 seconds into the fourth quarter, gave the Bulls their first lead of the game at 70-68.

The Clippers pulled within 85-81 on Lamond Murray's free throw with 1:40 left, but could not draw closer after committing a 10-second violation. Pippen sank two free throws and Jordan, who made 11-of-12 from the line, made one to seal the game.

Malik Sealy nailed a three at the buzzer for the Clippers.

Jordan added seven rebounds and four blocked shots for Chicago, which won despite shooting 38 percent (29 of 76) from the field and getting outscored 30-22 in the paint.

Sealy finished with 13 points and eight rebounds and Pooh Richardson added 10 and five assists for Los Angeles, which shot 42 percent (32 of 76) and committed 16 turnovers.