Jordan, Van Gundy on unfriendly terms

That was his first big mistake.

His next blunder was believing his players could carry out his dirty work.

You know the expression, "You don't tug on Superman's cape." Well, in this league you don't talk bad about Michael Jordan and not expect a quick and lethal response. On Wednesday, Jordan reacted to Van Gundy's disparaging -- and in some respects complimentary -- comments the only way he knows how.

Jordan scored a season-high 51 points, including two crucial fadeaway jumpers in final 1:08, and the new-look Knicks experienced an old result as the Bulls escaped with an 88-87 victory at the United Center.

Michael Jordan made the Knicks pay for their coach's comments.

Van Gundy recently said that Jordan "cons" opposing players. He said Jordan pretends he likes opponents in order to "soften them up, to make them feel he cares about them. Then he goes out there and tries to destroy them."

The Knicks coach elaborated Tuesday morning, several hours before Jordan's fourth career 50-plus performance against the Knicks.

"I admire him for it," Van Gundy said. "He uses everything he has to his advantage, whether psychological or physical. He cons them by inviting them to his movies. He cons them with the commercials. He pretends to enjoy guys, like them and befriend them and all he wants to do is win.

"The brighter players in this league and all the coaches realize what he does. I don't think what I'm saying is so outlandish. Everyone knows that it's true. I don't have a problem saying it."

Jordan had a problem with Van Gundy saying it, even though several Knicks -- namely Chris Childs, who clashed with Jordan in the first half -- supported their head coach's theory.

"That definitely motivated me," Jordan said after the Bulls beat the Knicks for the 11th consecutive time in Chicago, including playoffs. "If he wants to take a page out of the (Pat) Riley book, then let him. I guess I didn't make any friends tonight."

Van Gundy certainly won't be invited to appear in any Jordan movies or commercials. After Jordan buried a 17-foot fadeaway over Patrick Ewing and Allan Houston with 26.7 seconds remaining to increase the Bulls lead to 88-81, he glared at Van Gundy as the Knicks coach called timeout.

When the game ended and the two sides crossed each other on the floor to get to their respective dressing rooms, Jordan shouted a profanity at Van Gundy.

"I had some choice words," said Jordan, who scored 18 points in the first quarter.

"I think he said calm down you little hockey puck," Van Gundy joked.

Jordan wasn't in a joking mood.

"I don't go on the court expecting to make friends," Jordan said. "But I don't view it as a war away from the game. If he feels I take advantage of my friends ... I don't agree with that."

Jordan had said earlier that week that Van Gundy didn't know what he was talking about because he had never played the game.

"I scored in double figures my last year at Nazareth," said Van Gundy, a former Division III point guard. "I averaged 10.9 points a game. That hurts. He obviously doesn't have old videotape. I'll have to pull some out. I think he'd be very impressed. I was like a Steve Kerr who just couldn't shoot or handle.

"He said I didn't play? God. I guess he's not befriending me."

Walker on the move

"It's been very difficult," Walker said. "But it's been interesting. I can learn a lot from it. I know I'm pretty much overpowered at center, but it'll make me that much of a better player."

Put me in, coach

"I like Doug," he said. "Doug's my man. I want to see Doug be successful. The heck with Riley and Van Gundy."

"That breaks my heart," Van Gundy replied.

It's hard not to root for Riley to make the team and be reunited with Ewing and possibly Mason. Mason, a long-shot to be voted on to the team by the coaches, spent most of his years in New York fighting with the head coach and star center.

Orlando's owner awaits transplant

DeVos is worth an estimated $3.2 billion according to a Forbes magazine's ranking of the nation's 400 wealthiest people last year. He bought the Magic in 1991.

Slam dunks

• The Bullets loss to the Knicks on Monday was their 19th defeat in their last 20 games versus New York and their 36th in 41 games against the Knicks over the past 10 years.

• And don't look now, but here comes the Magic. They defeated the Bullets on Tuesday night and now trail Washington by 1½ games.

• Nets center Yinka Dare recently recorded his first assists after 2½ seasons in the league. "I'm now concentrating on making a 3-pointer," he joked.

• It's official. The Sixers are horrible. How can any team in the watered-down NBA lose 23 of 24 games?