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NBA
April 15, 2003
WASHINGTON -- Michael Jordan received a U.S. flag from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to begin a night that ended with another loss in his final home game as an NBA player.
Jordan received a mild pregame ovation and a larger one afterward as he scored 21 with eight rebounds in a 93-79 loss Monday night to the Knicks.
Washington ends its season Wednesday night at Philadelphia. As Jordan sat in the fourth quarter, the MCI Center crowd rose and cheered for 2 minutes, 45 seconds.
Rumsfeld received a loud ovation before presenting Jordan with a flag that flew over the Pentagon on the one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Jordan's introduction lasted just 25 seconds. It was some 3 1/2 minutes shorter than the one he received in his final game at Chicago this season.
"I know that this is my last home game in Washington, D.C., and that is something I definitely will treasure, but I woke up this morning and I thought there was this certain feeling that I should be feeling ... and nothing seems out of the ordinary," Jordan said.
PISTONS 89, CAVS 88: Host Detroit clinched the No. 1 seed in the East playoffs, escaping defeat as Smush Parker's dunk attempt bounced off the back rim as time expired. Rick Carlisle became the second coach to win 50 games and division titles in each of his first two seasons. Pat Riley did it with the 1981-82 and 1982-83 Lakers.
HORNETS 87, NETS 74: Baron Davis scored 19 and visiting New Orleans kept New Jersey from clinching a second straight Atlantic title. The Nets can win the division with a win at Indiana on Wednesday or a loss by the 76ers. SPURS 91, JAZZ 83: Tim Duncan scored 15 of his 21 points in the third quarter as visiting San Antonio clinched the Midwest title a third straight season and top seed in the West playoffs.
MAVS 109, SONICS 106: Dirk Nowitzki had 39 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for host Dallas, which locked the third seed in the West.
CLIPPERS 122, WARRIORS 113: Elton Brand scored 26 and matched his career high with 23 rebounds for visiting Los Angeles. Both teams are out of the playoffs.
BULLS NAME PAXSON GM: Former player John Paxson is leaving the broadcast booth to become Bulls general manager. Paxson replaces Jerry Krause, who resigned a week ago for health reasons. Paxson spent nine seasons with the Bulls. His 3 with 3.9 seconds left clinched the 1993 title against Phoenix. He was a Bulls assistant in 1995-96 and spent the past seven years on their broadcast team.
76ERS: Allen Iverson was nearby when a friend was shot outside a nightclub Monday, police said. Larry Robinson, 46, of Smithfield, Va., drove himself to a hospital in Iverson's car after he was shot in the leg about 2:30 a.m., Philadelphia police said. Police interviewed Iverson, but it was unclear if he was a witness.
WNBA: Wednesday's draft was postponed, as the league's future is uncertain. With collective-bargaining talks stalled, the NBA Board of Governors threatened to cancel the seventh season if the league and its players' association do not agree to a contract by Friday. Also, Seattle guard Michelle Marciniak retired to take an assistant coaching job with the University of South Carolina women's team.