NBA : Shorthanded Bulls top Kings

CHICAGO — Three-fifths of the Chicago Bulls’ lineup looked good on Monday.

Too good, in fact.

Starters Horace Grant, Bill Cartwright and John Paxson -- all out with injuries--donned their best business suits and sat on the bench while Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen took care of business on the court as Chicago beat Sacramento, 119-101.

“The team had so many suits on our bench with the guys injured, it looked like we had more suits than uniforms,” coach Phil Jackson said.

Jordan scored 20 of his 32 points in the second quarter and he and Pippen led a decisive spurt bridging the third and fourth quarters as the Bulls broke a three-game home losing streak.

Scott Williams started for Grant, who is expected to return from a lower back contusion for Wednesday’s game against Utah.

With Cartwright nursing a sore back and Paxson resting a sore knee, Stacey King and B.J. Armstrong also filled in as starters.

“We’ve been struggling at home (16-8) and we need more games like this,” Jordan said. “We’re trying to cover the loopholes with key players missing. Some of our players are getting more time than they used to

“Being minus some key players right now might also be a positive because they will be fresher when the playoffs come around.”

Chicago didn’t take charge until the closing moments of the third quarter when long-range baskets by Jordan and Pippen gave the Bulls an 85-78 lead.

Pippen and Jordan scored the first nine points of the final quarter to give Chicago a 16-point lead.

“We feel like we are just making up ground. We’re trying to hold our own and keep our heads above water until after the All-Star break, when we should be 100 percent,” Jackson said.

The Bulls went up 61-46 at the half after Jordan went on his second-quarter scoring spree, but Sacramento rallied in the third quarter and pulled within 81-78 with 39 seconds left.

“There were two big spurts that were keys. Obviously the last three minutes of the second quarter and then again in the third quarter where they turned it on,” Kings coach Garry St. Jean said. “It’s just so impressive how the Bulls can turn it up a notch offensively.”

Pippen finished with 26 points for Chicago and Trent Tucker added 14 off the bench. Williams contributed 10 points, 12 rebounds, four blocked shots and two steals.

The loss was the Kings eighth in their last nine games. Tisdale and Bonner had 18 points each and Simmons 16. Spud Webb had 14 points and 13 assists.