Hornets 102, Bulls 95, 3OT

Wednesday, January 10th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) â€” David Wesley scored 28 points and the Charlotte Hornets won the first triple-overtime game in their history, beating the Chicago Bulls 102-95 Tuesday night.

The Hornets rallied from a 19-point deficit in the third quarter to win their 12th consecutive home game.

Elden Campbell scored seven of his 18 points in the third overtime for Charlotte. His free throw with 1:54 left tied it at 95 and started a game-ending 8-0 run for the Hornets.

Elton Brand had 30 points and 12 rebounds for the Bulls. Ron Mercer added 27 points.

The Hornets led 83-80 in the first overtime on Wesley's jumper from the top of the key with 29.1 seconds left, but Fred Hoiberg answered with a driving layup.

After Wesley made one of two free throws with 17.1 seconds remaining, Brand hit a turnaround jumper from the left baseline to tie it at 84 with 8.3 seconds to play.

The Hornets rallied from a 90-86 deficit in the second overtime with baskets from Campbell and Baron Davis. Mercer scored all six of Chicago's points in the period.

The Bulls jumped to a double-digit lead in the first quarter and held it until the fourth. Charlotte rallied with baskets from Lee Nailon and Jamaal Magloire that cut their deficit to 65-56 with 9:13 left in regulation.

The lead dwindled to 68-64 on Magloire's dunk with 4:03 to play. After Mercer hit a jumper to make it 74-68 with 1:47 to play, the Hornets ran off six straight points, tying the game on P.J. Brown's two free throws with 28.1 seconds left.

Brand missed a one-hander in the lane with 4.1 seconds in regulation. The Bulls also missed a chance to win when Mercer misfired on a 3 in the second overtime.

Notes:Charlotte's leading scorer, Jamal Mashburn ,missed his third straight game with a bone bruise to his left knee. He is expected play Thursday against Portland. ... Hornets guard Eldridge Recasner did not play because of a lower back strain. ... Back spasms sidelined Bulls rookie power forward Marcus Fizer.