`Charter' victory for Bulls // Sixers `looked tired'

BULLS 125 76ERS 105

Chalk up an assist for Jerry Krause.

Krause, the Bulls' chief of basketball operations, decided to usecharter flights to speed the Bulls' return from grueling road games.The strategy has resulted in three victories and no losses.

It also helped the Bulls (11-7) begin a five-game home standSaturday night by routing the Philadelphia 76ers 125-105 before astanding-room crowd of 18,655 at the Stadium.

"I can't think of a better way for us to begin," said coach PhilJackson. "It was nice to give everybody a chance to play. Now maybewe can make some hay with this homestand."

Michael Jordan's game-high 29 points, nine assists and ninerebounds paced the victory. Every Bull who played scored.

Scottie Pippen had 20 points, five steals and nine rebounds.Horace Grant had 15 points and three blocked shots. John Paxson had15 points and six assists. Rookie B.J. Armstrong scored acareer-high 13 points.

Reserve guard Derek Smith came off the bench to lead the 76ers(10-8) with 19 points. Chicago native Hersey Hawkins, Jr., withfather Hersey Sr., brother Kenny and sister Laura looking on, had 12points, six below his average.

Philadelphia's Charles Barkley was still weakened by the flu thathad sidelined him two games. Barkley had season-lows of six points,14.7 below his average, and two rebounds, eight below his average.Forward Rick Mahorn was worse with four points, though he did have ateam-high eight rebounds.

But 10 points from Philadelphia's starting forwards and 16 fromits entire front line (center Mike Gminski had six) was evidence thatthe 76ers were hurting. The Bulls broke open the game with a 10-0run to close the second period with a 54-45 lead.

They extended that to 24 points, thanks partly to Krause.

Krause had arranged for the the team to fly back to Chicagoimmediately after the game Friday night at Indianapolis, a drainingaffair that the Pacers won 106-104 at the buzzer. Jordan played allbut 93 seconds of that game and said he was tired down the stretch.He scored 36 points, but only three in the fourth quarter.

"I was tired (Saturday) morning," Jordan said. "But aftergetting some more sleep after shoot-around, I felt fine during thegame. It really helped us to fly back home after the game.Philadelphia flew in here (Saturday) and apparently did not get muchrest. They looked tired.

"Barkley was not in the game tonight. It looked like he'd lostsome weight and he was tired. He just didn't look like the oldBarkley."

Grant said: "Our defense also was key tonight. Coach Jackson hasbeen emphasizing all season that the team that plays the best defensewill usually win the game. It paid off tonight. We hit the boardshard and didn't give them many second shots."

The Bulls exploited the fatigue in the 76ers' front line and hada 43-33 edge in rebounds.

The Bulls also took advantage of the 76ers' lack of defensivepursuit around the perimeter and buried the open shot at aseason-high 58.4 percent clip.

"In the second quarter, we were in it until the last couple ofminutes," Smith said. "I looked up at the clock and hoped we couldhang in there until halftime.

"But we're a Charles Barkley team, and unfortunately he justcouldn't move tonight."