Jordan turned high-leaping slam dunks, clutch game-winning baskets and defensive determination into performance art for the Chicago Bulls, leading them to NBA titles from 1991-1993 and 1996-1998 with a retirement in between.

The Los Angeles Clippers hardly broke a sweat in cruising past free-falling Minnesota on Thursday, beating the Timberwolves 90-77 to move within half a game of the NBA lead.

Despite the absence of injured Jordan Crawford and Nene, the Wizards captured their fifth win of the season against 28 defeats.

Oklahoma City Thunder's 12-game winning streak was ended on Thursday by the Minnesota Timberwolves, who were guided to a 99-93 victory by J.J. Barea, who scored 14 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter.

Nate Robinson came off the bench to lead the Chicago Bulls over Minnesota on Saturday, ending the Timberwolves' three-game winning streak with an 87-80 victory.

The San Antonio Spurs handed Utah their second-heaviest playoff loss, beating the Jazz 114-83 on Wednesday to take a 2-0 lead in their NBA first-round series.

Tony Parker scored 28 points as San Antonio beat Utah to win their playoff opener for the first time in four years.

With the playoffs a week away, Dwyane Wade left the Miami Heat arena on Saturday night with his swollen finger in a splint

Blake Griffin had 19 points and 13 rebounds and Caron Butler scored 17 points to lead the playoff-bound Clippers to a 95-82 victory over the Timberwolves on Thursday.

Ty Lawson scored 24 points, including four free throws in the final 17.6 seconds, to help the Denver Nuggets hold on for a 113-107 win on Wednesday over a Minnesota Timberwolves squad that was missing Kevin Love after the All-Star forward went out with a mild concussion in the first quarter.

Devin Harris scored 25 points, including 11 straight in the fourth quarter, and the Utah Jazz halted the San Antonio Spurs' 11-game winning streak and boosted their own playoff hopes with a 91-84 victory on Monday.

Greg Monroe had 18 points and seven rebounds, Rodney Stuckey scored 15 points in his return from injury, and Ben Wallace made five key free throws as Detroit beat Washington.

Brandon Jennings scored 19 points while Monta Ellis and Mike Dunleavy scored 17 points apiece for the Bucks, who edged closer to New York for that prized eighth position.

Danny Granger scored 25 points while David West had 14 points and eight rebounds for Indiana Pacers to hand Washington their fifth straight defeat.

Rudy Gay scored 21 points, and Dante Cunningham added season highs of 13 points and 14 rebounds to lead Memphis over Minnesota.

Russell Westbrook scored 45 points, and Kevin Durant added 40 points and a season-high 17 rebounds as the Oklahoma City Thunder overcame a career-high 51 points from Minnesota All-Star Kevin Love to beat the Timberwolves 149-140 in double overtime on Friday.

John Wall had 26 points and 12 assists to lead the Washington Wizards to a 99-89 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Thursday, just hours after making a multiplayer deal at the NBA trade deadline.

Dirk Nowtizki scored 27 points, Jason Terry had 24 and the Dallas Mavericks got a much-needed victory, beating the Washington Wizards 107-98 on Tuesday.