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NBA
March 5, 2003
WASHINGTON -- The Wizards had their biggest lead when Michael Jordan left with back spasms in the second quarter. Without him, they couldn't handle the Raptors.
Voshon Lenard, 0-for-6 entering the fourth quarter, had all 14 of his points in the final 12 minutes, and Vince Carter had 24 as Toronto beat Washington 89-86 Tuesday night, dealing yet another blow to Wizards playoff hopes.
Jordan left with 4:34 remaining in the second quarter after scoring four in 15 minutes. He will be evaluated today to determine his availability for tonight's home game against the Clippers. He hasn't missed a game this season.
Jerry Stackhouse scored 21 for the Wizards, who fell one game behind Milwaukee for the eighth and final East playoff spot when the Bucks beat Miami. The Wizards won three straight last week to get back into the top eight, but now have lost back to back to Miami and Toronto, both with losing records.
Jordan appeared to hurt himself when he twisted just before making a pass near the free-throw line in the second. The pass was intercepted by Alvin Williams, and Jordan stumbled as he started to run downcourt. He left the game at the next stoppage.
BUCKS 100, HEAT 91: Sam Cassell held the hot hand for the second straight game, scoring 25 as Milwaukee climbed back to .500. Brian Grant had 20 points and 11 rebounds for the host Heat, which has dropped seven of its past nine.
MAVERICKS 88, NETS 79: Steve Nash scored or assisted on 16 straight fourth-quarter points, helping host Dallas snap out of its offensive funk. The league's highest-scoring team looked nothing like its usual self, scoring only 60 through three quarters. New Jersey had problems, committing 22 turnovers. Nash finished with 24 points and eight assists.
KNICKS 89, CAVALIERS 80: Allan Houston scored 25 and Latrell Sprewell hit a key 3-pointer late in the fourth to lift host New York. The Cavs lost for the ninth time in 10 games and dropped to 0-11 on the road against Atlantic Division teams.
SONICS 92, TIMBERWOLVES 83: Ray Allen scored 29, Brent Barry had 19 and Rashard Lewis added 17 as host Seattle ended Minnesota's seven-game winning streak. The Sonics improved to 6-1 since Allen joined the team in a swap for Gary Payton.
SUNS 104, SPURS 97: Stephon Marbury had 35 points and 13 assists as the visiting Suns overcame Tim Duncan's 35-point, 21-rebound performance. Marbury connected on all six of his 3-pointers and the team hit 10 of 13 3-point shots. Duncan had his 42nd double double of the season.
HAWKS 92, NUGGETS 86: Shareef Abdur-Rahim hit a hook shot before Glenn Robinson made a clinching 3-pointer in the final minute as host Atlanta handed Denver its 13th straight loss. Abdur-Rahim finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds.
PISTONS 96, ROCKETS 83: Host Detroit ended a seven-game skid as Richard Hamilton scored 26 and Chauncey Billups added 21. Cuttino Mobley led Houston with 25.
BULLS: Jay Williams said he was just speaking his mind and stating the obvious after Monday night's loss to Orlando when he suggested there's a rift between the players and coaching staff. He hinted some players need to move on -- maybe even himself.
The comments by Williams, who left Duke after his junior year and was the No. 2 pick in last year's draft, might have been prompted by his performance: He went scoreless in 22 minutes, missing all four of his field-goal attempts and both free throws.
He's averaging 9.6 points and five assists while shooting 37 percent from the field and 62 percent from the line.
PISTONS: Point guard Chucky Atkins, the ex-USF player, was placed on the injured list with a bruised left knee and point guard Pepe Sanchez was activated. Atkins is averaging 7.2 points and 2.9 assists as a backup.
WIZARDS: Forward Etan Thomas had surgery on his left eye socket that was broken Feb. 21 and is expected to miss another 5-6 weeks.
BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME: Drazen Dalipagic, a three-time European player of the year; Dino Meneghin of Italy, a four-time Olympian, and Pedro Ferrandiz, who won 427 games as a coach in the Spanish league, were nominated by the international committee.