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Thursday, Apr. 13 8:30pm ET
Hamilton's career-high 26 paces Wizards | |||||
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 GAME FLOW
CHICAGO (AP) -- Michael Jordan would have enjoyed watching this one. Richard Hamilton scored a career-high 26 points, including 11 of Washington's last 13 points, as the Wizards, Jordan's new team, beat the Chicago Bulls, his old team, 109-103 Thursday night. Jordan wasn't at the game, joining every other NBA general manager in Phoenix for the Desert Classic pre-draft tournament. But he's made no secret of how much he wants to beat his former employers, telling the Wizards "I may send in my resignation," before they played the Bulls in Washington last month. "I'm sure he knows about the game," Wizards coach Darrell Walker said. "He'll just be happy we won." Four other Wizards were in double figures, including Mitch Richmond, who was 4-of-5 from 3-point range for 16 points. The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for the Wizards. They have won six of their last 10. The loss spoiled an outstanding night for rookie Elton Brand, who scored a career-high 44 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in becoming the first Bull to score 40 points since Jordan had 44 on April 18, 1998. Brand made 14 consecutive shots to set a team record, breaking Clem Haskins' mark of 11 in a row on Feb. 15, 1970. Brand also went 12-of-15 from the line. His previous career high was 38 on Feb. 24 at Indiana. His high at Duke was 33 points against Virginia on Jan. 10, 1999, and he said he once scored "48 or something" in high school. "Every time, at the free throw line, a jump shot, in the post -- whatever, I wanted the ball in my hands," he said. "If they (double-teamed), I was going to get it out. But if I shot it, I felt like it was going to drop. "It's very frustrating especially to come down to the end like that," he added. "I'd rather have the victory." Chicago came close. The Wizards never trailed after making their first four shots and jumping out to a 10-2 lead, but the Bulls made things interesting at the end. The Wizards took an 88-80 lead into the fourth quarter, but Chris Anstey, Hersey Hawkins and Brand all hit jumpers as the Bulls whittled their deficit to 88-86 with 9:03 left in the game. Chris Whitney, who finished with 17, beat the shot clock with a 3-pointer, and the Wizards were back up 93-88 with 7:31 left. But B.J. Armstrong hit a short jumper and Hawkins stole a bad pass to Tracy Murray and hustled in for the easy layup to bring the Bulls within 93-92 with 6:34 left. Whitney came right back with another 3, and the Bulls could not get closer than two points again. Brand scored eight points in the last 5:16, but Hamilton was there any time the Bulls threatened. Two turnovers in the last minute didn't help the Bulls' cause, either. "I just want to be out there in those clutch times. I want to get the ball in the clutch and take advantage of the time I get there," Hamilton said. "I'm always confident out there and say if you're not, you shouldn't be out there." Though the Bulls outshot the Wizards (52 percent to 48 percent), they could never overcome falling behind at the start. "It was tough," Brand said. "We'd get it down to two and we just couldn't get over the hump." Washington also outrebounded the Bulls 38-34, grabbing 17 offensive boards. The Wizards also made the most of their free throws, going 21-of-26 from the line. Game notesBrand's eight field goals in the second quarter tied a United Center record. ... In his rookie season, Jordan broke the 40-point mark four times, scoring 49 once and 45 points three times. ... Ron Artest, who sprained his ankle Tuesday night, was on the bench in street clothes Thursday and Bulls coach Tim Floyd said the rookie is doubtful for Friday's game at Boston. ... The Wizards' largest lead was 11. | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Washington Clubhouse Chicago Clubhouse RECAPS Washington 109 Chicago 103
Sacramento 130
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