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© St. Petersburg Times, published December 11, 2002
CHICAGO -- The Magic could only watch as Marcus Fizer slashed through the lane and drove straight to the basket midway through the fourth quarter.
A player or two tried to get a hand on him, but by the time they found the energy to lift their arms, Fizer was already at the hoop. Four games in five nights had definitely taken their toll.
"We played like we were on fumes," Orlando coach Doc Rivers said after the Bulls' 107-87 victory over the Magic. "All those jump shots off the front of the rim and their guys beat us off the dribble all night. It was tough to watch."
Not for Bulls fans. Jalen Rose scored 28 and Donyell Marshall and Fizer had 15 each as Chicago won its second straight. They also snapped a six-game losing streak to Orlando.
"We have no sympathy for a team that is missing their key guys or playing their fourth game in five nights because that's something we've been dealing with," Rose said. "When you put up the standings, that doesn't matter."
Not only were the Magic playing the second half of a back-to-back and their fourth in five nights, they were short-handed with Grant Hill (sore ankle) and Horace Grant (back spasms) out.
Orlando shot 35 percent, including 7-of-28 from 3-point range, and turned the ball over 18 times. They barely had the energy to play defense in the fourth, giving up several easy drives to the basket.
Tracy McGrady led the Magic with 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Pat Garrity scored 17.
"It's not easy with four games so close, but we can't use any excuses," McGrady said. "These guys came out and attacked us."
GRIZZLIES 107, HEAT 96: Drew Gooden scored 25 and Wesley Person and Pau Gasol each added 24 as Memphis got its first road win of the season. With the score tied at 84, the Grizzlies ran off eight straight points for a 92-84 lead with 5:23 left in the fourth.
BLAZERS 98, WIZARDS 79: Scottie Pippen had 14 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists as visiting Portland took a quick lead and led easily from start to finish. Pippen made 6 of 7 shots and tied Derek Anderson for the team high in scoring. All five starters were in double figures before the end of the third.
KNICKS 97, SONICS 80: Allan Houston scored 25, Kurt Thomas had 22 and host New York's point guards combined for 24 as the Knicks snapped a three-game losing streak. New York took a double-digit lead in the second and held onto it for most of the rest of the game, turning back Seattle's push in the fourth when the Sonics twice pulled within seven.
ROCKETS 103, KINGS 96: Steve Francis scored 32 and Yao Ming had six crucial points in the closing minutes for host Houston, which almost blew a 19-point lead before snapping Sacramento's six-game win streak. The Rockets built their big lead late in the second quarter then had to fight in the closing minutes to keep their first win over the Kings since March 28, 1999. With Houston up 89-84 with 5:17 to play, Yao hit a hook shot and moments later a short jumper for a 93-84 lead.
MAVERICKS 122, CLIPPERS 95: Nick Van Exel and Michael Finley scored 24 each for Dallas, which remained unbeaten at home despite losing leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki to an ankle injury. Nowitzki exited with 2:58 left in the first quarter with a sprained right ankle and did not return. Also, Dallas swingman Adrian Griffin Griffin partly dislocated his right shoulder in the third.
LAKERS 106, WARRIORS 102: Jason Richardson scored 26 and hit six 3-pointers, and Earl Boykins drew a critical charge with 10.7 seconds left for host Golden State. Gilbert Arenas scored 25 points and hit two free throws in the closing seconds. Golden State won despite blowing all but one point of an 11-point fourth quarter lead over the Lakers.
PHILADELPHIA -- A former hotel security guard says he overheard a police detective make a toast to Allen Iverson's "next felony" last summer, days before the NBA star was charged with threatening two men with a gun.
Wesley Gregg told Iverson's lawyers he was working a late-evening shift at a Philadelphia hotel July 8 when he spotted the lead detective in the investigation dining with other officers.
When the detectives got up to leave, Lt. Michael Chitwood made a toast: "This is for Iverson's next felony," Gregg said in a statement.
Prosecutors dropped all charges against Iverson after the two men he was accused of threatening said they were unwilling to testify. Iverson's attorneys said the tale formed the basis for comments Iverson made about Philadelphia police last month.
CELTICS: The league suspended forward Tony Battie without pay for today's game against Phoenix for kicking a basketball that hit a referee.
CLIPPERS: Guard Eric Piatkowski was injured in Tuesday's game and did not return. He left the game with 5:24 remaining in the first with a pulled left groin.
HAWKS: Center Nazr Mohammed was activated off the injured list after missing the first 20 games with a stress fracture in his right foot.
KINGS: Chris Webber won't face trial on charges of obstruction of justice and lying to a grand jury until the end of the season. U.S. District Judge Nancy G. Edmunds set Webber's trial date for July 8.
MAVERICKS: Forward Eduardo Najera was placed on the injured list. Najera had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Dec. 6 and will be out 6-8 weeks.
RAPTORS: Vince Carter will miss two weeks with a strained right knee after colliding with a teammate during practice.