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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Juwan Howard keeps saying he wants the ball
with the game on the line. He got it Tuesday night, taking a pass
from a fourth-string point guard, and the Washington Wizards got
their first buzzer-beating victory of the season.
Howard hit a 13-foot, baseline turnaround jumper with 1.8
seconds remaining to give Washington a 97-95 victory over the
Charlotte Hornets.
It was the Wizards' first win in a game decided by three points
or fewer and gave them only their second two-game winning streak of
the season.
"I've been waiting on this time right here," Howard said. "I
was mad at myself last time when I had that opportunity against
Seattle (two weeks ago). I was going to make this no matter what."
Howard took the pass from Felipe Lopez, who was playing point
guard after Richard Hamilton fouled out. Rod Strickland and Chris
Whitney didn't play because of injuries.
Howard had 22 points and six assists and Hamilton had 20 points
and six assists for the Wizards, who won for the first time this
season with president of basketball operations Michael Jordan in
attendance. They had been 0-6 with Jordan in the building.
David Wesley scored 25 and Jamal Mashburn added 20 for the
Hornets, who have lost five straight and 11 of 14.
"It was a bad loss against a team that was struggling, a team
that wanted it more than we did," Charlotte coach Paul Silas said.
"We were not moving the ball. We're just not playing together as a
ball club. You have to have a pure heart in order to play together
as a club. And you have to have mental toughness in order to get in
there and battle. And right now, we're not battling at all."
Mashburn tied the game at 95 with a layup with 15.5 seconds
remaining for the Hornets, who had trailed the entire fourth
quarter. After Howard's bucket, Elden Campbell took a jump shot at
the buzzer, but Calvin Booth was guarding him closely and the shot
hit the top of the backboard.
Hamilton found out only five minutes before game time that he
would get his first NBA start at point guard, even though coach
Leonard Hamilton had known most of the day.
"It was a surprise to me," Richard Hamilton said. "Right then
and there, I had to switch tunes. ... I wasn't concerned. I have
enough confidence in myself that I know what I can do out there."
Hamilton started because Whitney, who has limped through
stretches over the last few weeks, sprained both ankles in Sunday's
victory over Atlanta. Whitney said he will also miss Friday's game
at Atlanta and Saturday's home game against Phoenix.
The Wizards' only other point guard, Strickland, missed his 14th
straight game with what is officially listed as left shoulder
tendinitis. Strickland hasn't played since complaining about his
playing time after a game Dec. 27, and has since been suspended for
missing a road trip and charged with drunken driving.
"I was a little concerned, because I thought they were a little
emotional about the fact that we didn't have Chris, but I was
wrong," Leonard Hamilton said. "We played extremely determined,
and we played with the same spirit as when Chris is in there."
Hamilton, who has looked out of place at times when asked to
play point in the past, was aggressive and caught a break early on
when Charlotte's Baron Davis had to sit with two quick fouls.
Hamilton had five assists in the first quarter.
There were 11 lead changes and 11 ties through the first three
quarters, and neither team led by more than seven. The Wizards
began the final period ahead 77-72, and kept the Hornets at arm's
length until Howard's short jumper capped 6-0 run that created a
91-83 cushion with 2:56 left.
Hamilton fouled out with 1:51 to play, leaving Lopez to handle
the point the rest of the way. Hamilton's foul came on a
three-point play by Wesley that made the score 93-90.
The teams traded turnovers before Jahidi White made two free
throws with 57.5 seconds left. Wesley's 3-pointer made it 95-93
with 39.4 to go, and an offensive foul on Lopez gave Mashburn the
chance to tie the game.
Mashburn did tie it, but Howard won it.
"This is the same lineup that had us 20-9. ... We have reached
a low point in our season right now, and we've got to find a way to
dig out of it." said Silas, whose team plays host to the Knicks on
Wednesday. "New York will come in and just beat the living hell
out of us if we don't snap out of this. If we don't come tough and
fend them off, because they're coming at us, we will just sink
right down into despair."
Game notes
Whitney had not missed a game since April 23, 1999, a
streak of 131 straight. ... Charlotte had won six of its previous
seven against Washington.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Charlotte Clubhouse
Washington Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 83
Atlanta 82
Washington 97
Charlotte 95
Orlando 116
Toronto 111
Philadelphia 114
Dallas 98
Milwaukee 105
New York 91
Minnesota 82
Phoenix 73
Seattle 91
LA Lakers 80
Portland 104
Chicago 100
San Antonio 110
Vancouver 77
Denver 105
Houston 100
Utah 100
Golden State 78
Sacramento 130
New Jersey 104
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Baron Davis Official Site
Juwan Howard Official Site
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