ESPN Network: ESPN.com | NFL.com | NBA.com | NHL.com | NASCAR | WNBA.com | ABCSports | EXPN | FANTASY | INSIDER

  Scores/Schedules
  Standings
  Statistics
  Transactions
  Injuries
  Players
  Message Board
  NBA StatSearch
  NBA en espaņol
Clubhouses





Sunday, Dec. 17 9:00pm ET
Wizards snap nine-game losing streak

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Revenge and a nine-game losing streak were plenty of motivation for the Washington Wizards.

Juwan Howard scored a season-high 31 points and Richard Hamilton tied a career high with 30 in a reserve role as the Wizards beat the Los Angeles Clippers 103-94 on Sunday night.

The Wizards won for the first time since Nov. 25 against Milwaukee and earned plenty of satisfaction after blowing a 21-point lead against the Clippers last month.

"I'm sure that loss to the Clippers maybe had a little to do with the motivation," coach Leonard Hamilton said. "But you have to understand, when you've lost nine in a row like that, all those games were bad and you're motivated by all of them."

Washington's skid, which included four games decided by six points or less and two by 20 or more, was its longest since a 13-game skid during the 1994-95 season.

"Our motivation tonight was out of respect for the Clippers," Hamilton said. "They came back on us last time when we thought we were playing real well, and then they went on the road and beat a very good Phoenix team. So it was out of respect for them that we gave this type of focus."

Lamar Odom had 20 points for the Clippers, who lost to the Wizards for the ninth time in 12 meetings.

"Our problems came because they created them for us," Clippers coach Alvin Gentry said. "Juwan and Hamilton made a lot of shots with a hand in their face. We couldn't find our rhythm like they did."

Richard Hamilton shot 12-for-20 from the field in 40 minutes. The second-year guard led the Wizards to a 46-42 halftime lead with his first 16 points.

"He's a gunslinger," said Rod Strickland, who added 12 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. "He's our most potent offensive weapon. He can score. You give him the ball, and he's one of those guys who can break people down and get his own shot. And that's what you need when things are kind of stagnant."

The Clippers fell behind by eight points with three minutes left in the first half. The Wizards protected their lead the rest of the way and their eight turnovers were a season low.

Los Angeles twice got within two points, the last time on a 10-foot hook by Michael Olowokandi with 5:35 left in the third quarter. But the Clippers missed eight of their first 10 shots in the fourth and Washington built its biggest lead to 93-78 with 5:27 to play, as Howard's dunk capped a 16-6 run.

"Juwan and Richard were crucial for them tonight," Clippers guard Eric Piatkowski said. "They were both hot, and we weren't able to rotate fast enough to guard them."

Hamilton made two jumpers during the pivotal run and scored eight points during the final quarter.

"When I go out there and play my game, good things happen," he said. "The guys set good screens for me, and I mixed it up and tried to keep them off-balance. Sometimes I tried to get to the basket, sometimes I pulled up and sometimes I tried to hit the long shot."

Los Angeles rookie Quentin Richardson left the game with 2:18 left in the second quarter after spraining his left ankle. X-rays taken at halftime were negative.

Starting forward Tyrone Nesby, playing against the Clippers for the second time since the Nov. 28 trade that sent him from Los Angeles to Washington for Cherokee Parks, missed seven of his first eight shots -- including a 20-foot air ball with 7:07 left in the first half. He shot 2-for-12 overall and finished with four points in 27 minutes.

Game notes
Parks remained on the Clippers' bench the entire game for the fifth straight time, and seventh time in 10 games since joining the team. ... The Clippers' 21-point comeback at Washington represented the second-largest margin they have ever overcome to win a game. They erased a 23-point deficit at San Antonio to beat the Spurs 114-108 on Dec. 23, 1988. ... Odom has played only one game this season without any turnovers -- Nov. 27 against the Lakers (35 minutes). As a rookie last year, he avoided a turnover in only one of 76 games. ... The Wizards, playing their sixth game since losing Mitch Richmond for at least a month because of a partially torn tendon in his left knee, reached the 100-point mark for the first time since their previous victory -- on Nov. 25 against Milwaukee. ... The Wizards have beaten the Clippers six straight times on the road. ... Three of the Wizards' five victories have come on the road. ... ... Nesby has combined for 12 points and 13 rebounds in 62 minutes in his two games against the Clippers.
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Washington Clubhouse

LA Clippers Clubhouse

RECAPS
LA Lakers 104
Toronto 101

Orlando 101
Vancouver 91

New York 100
Milwaukee 97

Dallas 99
Detroit 90

Sacramento 95
New Jersey 79

Washington 103
LA Clippers 94

FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT

Juwan Howard Official Site


ESPN.com:  HELP |  ADVERTISER INFO |  CONTACT US |  TOOLS |  SITE MAP
Copyright ©2000 ESPN Internet Group. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. Employment opportunities at ESPN.com.