Monday, February 25, 2002
Hurting Jordan may sit
Would miss 5 games on injured list
The Associated Press
MIAMI — Michael Jordan limped to the bench midway through the fourth quarter and might stay there awhile.
Jordan sat out the final 6:27 of the Washington Wizards' 92-80 loss to Miami with a bruised right knee Sunday night and said he might go on the injured list, which would force him to miss at least five games.
“This needs more than just two days' rest,” he said. “I'm going to take the necessary time to get better. I may have to sit out a few games.”
The Wizards lost their fifth straight game to drop below .500 (27-28) for the first time since Jan. 22.
Jordan, who missed Wednesday's loss at Detroit because of his injury, had fluid drained from the knee before the game. He played 30 minutes before sitting down for good with Miami leading 78-74.
“The game was on the line and I was sitting on the bench. That should tell you something was wrong,” Jordan said. “It got to the point in the fourth quarter where I couldn't move.”
Coming off a 37-point performance Saturday, Jordan shot 4-for-13 and finished with nine points, six assists and five rebounds. It was just his second single-digit scoring total of the season — he had six points Dec. 27 against Indiana.
“It pains me to see him playing on one leg. I feel badly about that,” Wizards coach Doug Collins said. “He tried to gut it out and couldn't do it. I didn't even want him to play at all, but Michael, competitor that he is, was going to come down here and play.”
Jordan, who turned 39 on Feb. 17, has missed only two games this season but has had the knee drained at least three times.
Sonics 101, Raptors 92
TORONTO — Brent Barry scored 23 points, Gary Payton added 22 and Rashard Lewis had 21 as the Seattle SuperSonics beat the Toronto Raptors 101-92 Sunday for their sixth straight victory on the road.
Vince Carter scored 28 points in his first game back from the injured list. The Raptors, who went 0-7 without Carter, have lost eight straight to fall to .500 (29-29).
Jerome James added 18 points and 12 rebounds for the SuperSonics, who have won five of six since Vin Baker went on the injured list with three dislocated toes on his left foot.
Morris Peterson added 20 points for the Raptors, who are on their longest losing streak since a 13-game skid from March 20-April 12, 1998.
Suns 92, Spurs 83
PHOENIX — Stephon Marbury scored a season-high 36 points, leading Phoenix.
The victory was the 1,500th in the Suns' history and made them the 12th NBA franchise to reach that total.
Shawn Marion added 17 points for the Suns, who won for only the second time in five games since Frank Johnson replaced Scott Skiles as coach last Sunday.
Magic 111, Cavaliers 96
CLEVELAND — Ricky Davis scored 27 points in a rare start as Cleveland took advantage of an Orlando Magic team playing without Tracy McGrady.
Wesley Person scored 26 points on 10-of-19 shooting, and Lamond Murray added 19 points and 13 rebounds for Cleveland. Andre Miller had 15 assists.
McGrady, the Magic's leading scorer with a 24.8 average, was scratched just before tipoff with a sore right foot.
Lakers 107, Knicks 91
NEW YORK — Shaquille O'Neal overpowered the Knicks for 30 points, Kobe Bryant added 27, and Robert Horry had 20.
Responding to coach Phil Jackson's threat of no days off for the rest of the season unless they earn one, the Lakers improved to 3-0 on their five-game road trip while sending the Knicks to their fifth straight loss.
Bucks 89, Pistons 82
MILWAUKEE — Sam Cassell scored 27 points and Ray Allen added 21 as Milwaukee snapped the Pistons' franchise-record seven-game road winning streak.
Milwaukee moved into sole possession of first place in the Central Division at 32-22, one game ahead of the Pistons.
Jerry Stackhouse led the Pistons with 19 points on 8-for-27 shooting. Chucky Atkins added 17 points.
The Bucks led 71-63 after three quarters, but Detroit closed within 74-71 on a jumper by Corliss Williamson with 5:38 remaining. Allen countered by scoring Milwaukee's next seven points to make it 81-74 with 3:33 left.
Nets 95, Hornets 93
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Lucious Harris hit a go-ahead layup with 46 seconds to play and New Jersey rallied from a 23-point deficit in the second half.
The Nets held the Hornets to just 11 points in winning their sixth straight game and ending Charlotte's five-game winning streak on the road.
Baron Davis had 29 points to lead the Hornets, yet he missed a 3-point try with about three seconds left.
Jason Kidd had 21 points and 15 assists and Kenyon Martin shook off ankle injury early in the third period to add 13 for New Jersey.
Hawks 89, Nuggets 84
Jason Terry scored 25 points and Shareed Abdur-Rahim added 23 points and eight rebounds as Atlanta earned its 20th win of the season. Terry added 10 assist for the Hawks, which placed four players in double-figures.
Juwan Howard led Denver with 28 points and James Posey had 20 points and 14 rebounds.
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Hurting Jordan may sit
