EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. Guard Michael Jordan is the NBA's leadingscorer.
Forward Charles Oakley is the league's leading rebounder.
To Bulls' fans, they are a match made in heaven.
To Bulls' opponents, they are downright devilish.
Jordan and Oakley teamed up to terrorize the New Jersey NetsFriday night, leading the Bulls to a 100-99 victory in Brenden ByrneArena.
Jordan scored a game-high 28 points. Oakley grabbed a game-high21 rebounds and added 17 points that included two thunder dunks.
"On the road you got to come out and give it all you got,"Oakley said. "I was fortunate to get off to a good start and getpoints and rebounds in the flow. We struggled a little. Both teamsmade some real tough shots. But our experience won out in the end."
It was the sixth straight road victory for the Bulls (47-30),third in the Central Division. They stayed in pursuit of thesecond-place Atlanta Hawks (48-29), who remained a game ahead bywinning 103-101 at Philadelphia.
"We're looking to move up," Jordan said. "We're not think oftaking any steps backward."
The Nets suffered their 12th straight loss before a 20,039sellout. But judging from the cheers the Bulls received, some fansweren't pulling for the home team.
Jordan scored the game-winner on a 15-foot baseline jumper with21 seconds to play.
His basket triggered the 30th lead change and 16th of the fourthquarter. Both teams blew nine-point leads.
"There was a lot of lobbing," Bulls coach Doug Collins said. "Wedid not have a lot of zip. But we did a good job when we had to.Michael made that key shot. Then we played 20 seconds of good teamdefense."
"Great players make great shots," said Oakley of Jordan. "Andeverybody knows Michael is as great a player as they come."
"But tonight Oakley was our most valuable player," Jordan said."His rebounding did it for us. The man's hungry. He wants that re bounding title."
"And I want him to win it, too," Collins said. "Oakley deservesit because he works so hard. He might be averaging at least 14rebounds a game if he did not have to share so much of his time withHorace Grant, who is playing super.
"But Oakley understands and accepts it because he is a winner.I'm really thrilled at the game he had tonight."
"Oakley showed why he is respected as a great rebounder," saidBulls center Dave Corzine, who grabbed eight himself.
Corzine's last was most important. It was off Net center TimMcCormick's potential winning 17-foot jumper that bounced off thefront rim with a couple of seconds left. The 6-11 Corzine, tied upby the 7-foot McCormick, controlled the tip to run out the clock.
The Bulls also got 14 points from reserve guard John Paxson, 15points and five rebounds from Grant and 11 points and seven assistsfrom Sam Vincent.
McCormick led the Nets with 23 points.
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