Gene Banks scored 26 points and Charles Oakley and Sidney Green added 18 each Friday night to power the Bulls to a 108-96 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in front of 8,827 at the Stadium.
The victory was the Bulls` second straight, marking the first time they have won consecutive games since Jan. 2. Portland has lost eight straight.
The contest was a make-up of Thursday`s scheduled game, which was postponed when the Bulls were unable to fly into Chicago because of fog.
Kiki Vandeweghe led Portland with 21 points, while Clyde Drexler added 18. Oakley had a game-high 15 rebounds.
Bulls` vice president of operations Jerry Krause signed guard Michael Holton to his second 10-day contract before the game. After this pact expires March 3, Krause must either sign Holton for the rest of the season or release him.
Because of the extent of Michael Jordan`s injury, the league gave the Bulls clearance Friday to carry Holton for the rest of the season, even with Jordan technically still on the roster.
If Jordan came back for several games, Holton would be cut loose, but could be brought back. If that were to happen, Holton would still be paid for the remainder of the season. Jordan broke a bone in his left foot Oct. 29 and hasn`t returned. His next examination is in three weeks.
Holton had sparked the Bulls in the previous two games, scoring a team-high 18 points in Wednesday`s 99-96 victory over New Jersey that ended a seven-game losing streak.
”If he keeps playing this way, I`ll sign him for next year,” Krause said.
Krause will be looking for a big man, too. Starting center Jawann Oldham will be out for two weeks with a broken cheekbone, and the already shorthanded Bulls are running out of bodies.
Against the Blazers, there were only nine players in uniform. Joining Oldham on the bench in street clothes was Orlando Woolridge, suffering from a strained right knee.
Coach Stan Albeck started No. 1 draft choice Oakley at center against ex- Bull Caldwell Jones. Jones was replacing starter Sam Bowie, who may be out for the season with a leg injury, the same problem that plagued him in college at Kentucky.
Holton made his earliest appearance since joining the team and immediately livened things up. With 3 minutes 25 seconds left in the first quarter, he replaced George Gervin and proceeded to hit his first jumper. On the next play, Holton and Kyle Macy teamed up on a steal that resulted in Macy`s breakaway layup and a 20-14 Bulls` lead.
Thanks to a 10-2 spurt near the end of the period, the Bulls were ahead 28-19 after one quarter.
The Bulls maintained their edge at the outset of the second quarter, outscoring Portland 7-2, led by Banks` 5 points, and led 54-43 at halftime.
A 3-point play by Gervin, followed by Green`s drive, gave the Bulls a 65-50 lead early in the third quarter. Portland drew within 69-60 on a Vandeweghe basket. Hoping to turn things around, Albeck inserted Holton back into the lineup for Gervin.
It didn`t work. Vandeweghe hit two more shots in succession and Drexler scored on a 3-point play as Portland ran off 11 straight points. Banks ended the string with a basket, and the Bulls led 71-67.
The Bulls finished off the quarter with five unanswered points, highlighted by a lob to Holton, who knocked it down off the glass and left his team with an 82-73 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Portland cut the lead to five points early in the final period, but the Bulls answered with seven straight points to pull away to a 94-82 lead.
