Thursday, December 20, 2001
NBA: Jordan, Wizards win seventh straight
Walker rebounds for Celtics
By The Associated Press
![[img]](http://enquirer.com/editions/2001/12/20/bkn_150x200.jpg)
Jordan shoots over Hawks' Shareef Abdur-Rahim.
(AP wire photo) | ZOOM | |
WASHINGTON Michael Jordan blistered former Chicago teammate Toni Kukoc and scored 23 points as the Washington Wizards beat Atlanta 103-76 Wednesday night for their seventh straight win.
It was the Wizards largest margin of victory of the season, and their 12-12 record is their first .500 or better mark this late or later in the season since they finished 42-40 in 1997-98. The winning streak is their longest since the 1995-96 season.
After a 1-for-6 start, Jordan finished 11-for-19 from the field and had six assists in just 27 minutes. He scored 18 points in the second quarter as the Wizards took a 49-33 halftime lead.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim led Atlanta with 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Kukoc had 19 points.
Celtics 104, Cavaliers 98
BOSTON Antoine Walker had 33 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists two nights after setting a record for shooting futility as Boston beat Cleveland.
His biggest basket came with 45 seconds left when he hit a 3-pointer after Cleveland had cut an 85-66 deficit to 99-96 on Andre Miller's layup with a minute to go.
On Monday night, Walker missed all 11 of his 3-point attempts, the worst performance in NBA history, in a 99-83 loss at Philadelphia. Against the Cavaliers, he made 12 of 18 shots, including 2-for-3 on 3-pointers.
Pierce added 25 points for the Celtics, 10-2 in their last 12 games. Miller led the Cavaliers with 36 points.
Hornets 94, 76ers 85
PHILADELPHIA Lee Nailon had a career-high 27 points as Charlotte beat Philadelphia, snapping a two-game losing streak.
Baron Davis added 19 points, and P.J. Brown had 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Hornets.
Allen Iverson led Philadelphia with 38 points on 13-of-30 shooting. The 76ers had a two-game winning streak snapped and have lost eight of their last 10.
Warriors 101, Pistons 88
OAKLAND, Calif. Antawn Jamison scored 24 points as Golden State won its second straight home game under new coach Brian Winters.
Golden State, 2-1 since Winters took over for fired Dave Cowens on Saturday, ran away from Detroit with a 21-8 surge that began late in the third quarter.
Jerry Stackhouse had 21 points on 9-of-23 shooting for the Pistons, who have lost the first three games of a five-game West Coast trip.
SuperSonics 104, Kings 92
SEATTLE Gary Payton scored 10 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter as Seattle beat Sacramento.
Rashard Lewis added 20 points, and Brent Barry had 19 to help the Sonics to their second two-game winning streak of the season. Earlier this season, the Sonics had a three-game winning streak.
Doug Christie led the Kings with 23 points.
The Kings were without Chris Webber, who sustained a left ankle injury Tuesday night against Detroit.
Raptors 102, Pacers 90
INDIANAPOLIS Morris Peterson matched his career high with 29 points to help Toronto snap a four-game losing streak.
Alvin Williams added 24 points and Vince Carter had 23 for the Raptors, who played without center Hakeem Olajuwon (swollen toe) and guard Chris Childs (sore right ankle).
Jermaine O'Neal led the Pacers with 27 points and 16 rebounds, and Reggie Miller had 19 points.
Spurs 97, Trail Blazers 79
SAN ANTONIO Tim Duncan had 26 points and 12 rebounds as the San Antonio extended its winning streak to nine games.
The Spurs are off to a franchise-best start at 19-4 and matched the Lakers for the longest winning streak of the season.
David Robinson had 11 points and a season-high 16 rebounds for the Spurs. Ruben Patterson led the Trail Blazers with 18 points.
Nets 117, Timberwolves 112, OT
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. Jason Kidd capped a season-high 33-point performance with a steal and the go-ahead layup with 56 seconds to play in overtime for New Jersey.
Kenyon Martin added a career-high 31 points for the Nets, who blew a 19-point fourth-quarter lead with some horrible foul shooting before coming back to win their fourth straight game.
Kevin Garnett had 29 points, including a tying basket with 10.5 seconds left in regulation, and 21 rebounds for Minnesota, which matched its season high with its third straight loss.
Magic 98, Jazz 90
ORLANDO, Fla. Darrell Armstrong had 24 points, nine assists and six rebounds for short-handed Orlando.
Mike Miller added 21 points for the Magic, playing without All-Stars Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady. Hill underwent season-ending ankle surgery Wednesday, while McGrady was in Atlanta having his back looked at by a specialist.
Karl Malone led Utah with 28 points, and Donyell Marshall had 24 points and a season-high 20 rebounds.
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