NBA ROUNDUP : Kerr’s Shot Keeps Bulls’ Streak Alive

Steve Kerr took a shot after he took the shot that gave the Chicago Bulls another victory Wednesday night at Chicago.

Kerr’s high-arching three-pointer with 23 seconds to play went through the basket and Kerr went sprawling when Washington’s Tom Gugliotta hit him as he released the ball, nearly knocking the Bull guard into the front row.

“It was like a quarterback back in the pocket,� said Kerr after the Bulls’ 84-83 victory, their 15th in a row at Chicago Stadium. “I knew I was going to get hit.

“I had a good look at the basket. I knew it was going in. It was one of the few good looks I had all night. As a shooter, you know when it feels good. And this was just one that I knew felt good.�

But Kerr, perhaps shaken by the hit from Gugliotta, missed the free throw and a chance for a rare four-point play, and the Bulls’ lead stayed at one.

The Bullets, however, misfired on two shots, one by Don MacLean with five seconds to play and another on a lob pass to Kenny Walker at the buzzer.

“I don’t know how he (Kerr) got that open,� said Gugliotta, who missed one of two free throws with 58 seconds left, leaving Washington with an 83-81 lead.

“The last thing we wanted was a three. I tried to go after it. But we broke down defensively. I tried to block it and I ran into him.�

B.J. Armstrong scored 17 points for the Bulls, who have won 17 of their last 20 games.

Gugliotta scored 20 and Calbert Cheaney 19 for Washington.

Utah 104, Cleveland 92--Karl Malone scored 11 of his 28 points in the final 6:38 to lead the Jazz at Salt Lake City.

Mark Price led the Cavaliers with 24 points. Brad Daugherty scored 22, but was held to two free throws in the fourth quarter as the Cavaliers’ four-game winning streak ended.

Seattle 114, Sacramento 95--Gary Payton scored 24 points at Sacramento as the SuperSonics again won easily over the Kings.

Kendall Gill scored 22 points for Seattle, which is 3-0 against Sacramento this season, with an average winning margin of 18 points.

Boston 89, Dallas 84--Robert Parish had 17 points and 10 rebounds at Dallas to help the Celtics extend the Mavericks’ league-record home losing streak to 18 games.

Golden State 120, Atlanta 119--Latrell Sprewell’s buzzer-beating three-point shot from the left corner at Atlanta gave the Warriors their season-high fifth victory in a row and ended the Hawks’ eight-game home winning streak.

Indiana 109, Miami 92--Byron Scott and Reggie Miller each scored 21 points at Indianapolis to help the Pacers hand the Heat their sixth consecutive loss.

New Jersey 112, Minnesota 91--Derrick Coleman scored 24 points and Kenny Anderson scored 16 at East Rutherford, N.J., to help the Nets extend their winning streak to a season-high three games.

New York 120, San Antonio 108--Patrick Ewing took advantage of the absence of David Robinson to score 35 points at New York in leading the Knicks to their sixth consecutive victory.

Robinson is sidelined because of a knee injury.

Charlotte 115, Philadelphia 103--Alonzo Mourning scored 16 of his 27 points in the third quarter and the Hornets set a franchise record at Charlotte, N.C., by making all 24 of their free throws.