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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Benched and fined a day after missing
practice, Rod Strickland made a clear allegation against Washington
Wizards management. The Wizards gave a muddled response.
Strickland sat out the first quarter and played only 18 minutes
in Wednesday night's 89-82 loss to the New York Knicks. The loss
put the Wizards' record at 5-24, the franchise's worst this deep
into the season, and was their fifth in a row and sixth straight at home.
|  | | Latrell Sprewell, left, outscored the Wizards' Juwan Howard 25-20 in the Knicks' 89-82 win. |
Strickland, whose tardiness and off-court problems have been a
major headache for the Wizards in past years, had his first misstep
of this season Tuesday when he overslept and missed practice. He
probably didn't help matters when, upon arrival, he restated his
long-held desire that he "would love to play in New York."
After scoring just two points with three turnovers, Strickland
said he suspected management -- which includes president of
basketball operations Michael Jordan -- was making an example of
him.
"I don't know if they are trying to put me on Front Street or
what have you, but I've tried to do what they've asked me to,"
Strickland said.
"For them to do that, it's a bit much. ... It's like not being
able to get past your past. You can't get past that. I just didn't
think I deserved that. He told me I wasn't going to start, but the
reduced minutes. I'm on bad wheels, I'm stiff and can't do nothing.
I can't get into the game."
Washington coach Leonard Hamilton at first refused to
acknowledge that Strickland was benched for missing practice. Once
he did, he would not say whether it was his decision or Jordan's --
or whether someone in the organization was trying to make an
example of Strickland.
"Ask management," Hamilton said.
Jordan did not attend the game. General manager Wes Unseld did
not address the issue, other than to say it was Strickland who
benched himself by not coming to practice.
"If he tells you the moon is made out of blue cheese, if he
thinks that's accurate, that's fine," Unseld said. "I have no
problem with anything he says."
The Strickland matter gave some afterlife to what was otherwise
a typical Knicks game: deliberate, laborious and without flow.
There was no knockout or decisive run. New York took the lead at
the end of the first quarter and did just enough to keep the woeful
Wizards at bay.
"We could have done a better job," said Latrell Sprewell, who
scored 25 points. "But the bottom line is we came away with a
victory."
Allan Houston had 23 points and a season-high
seven assists for the Knicks.
The Wizards' worst spell was a fourth quarter that included eight
turnovers. Strickland made a layup on the first possession to close
the deficit to six at 75-69, but the Knicks quickly restored their
double-digit lead and held Washington to just three field goals
over 10 minutes.
Sprewell played well throughout, but his best stretch came after
the Wizards jumped to a 7-1 lead. Sprewell made three of the next
four New York baskets, including a 15-foot jumper and a transition
layup, to close the score to 12-9. He also thrilled the crowd,
thousands of whom were Knicks fans, with a breakaway dunk late in
the game.
Juwan Howard scored 20 points to lead the Wizards, but shot
4-for-12 from the field.
Game notes
The previous worst franchise 29-game start for the Wizards
was 6-23 by the 1966-67 Baltimore Bullets. ... The Wizards were
whistled for illegal defense three times in the first seven
minutes. ... Washington guard Richard Hamilton returned after
missing two games with a strained Achilles tendon. He played 13
minutes and scored one point. ... The game included 57 fouls and 63
free throws. The Knicks made 22 of 24.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
New York Clubhouse
Washington Clubhouse
RECAPS
New York 89
Washington 82
Miami 91
Indiana 79
Seattle 107
Houston 92
Philadelphia 118
Golden State 110
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Juwan Howard Official Site
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