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

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






Friday, Jan. 26 7:30pm ET
Wizards bolstered by reinforcements

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

ATLANTA (AP) -- Get this: The Washington Wizards have a winning streak.

Chris Whitney scored 18 points on a sore left ankle, including a key 3-pointer with 57 seconds remaining, and Washington rallied to beat the Atlanta Hawks 106-99 Friday night.

The Wizards (10-34) have won three in a row -- their longest winning streak of the season. That's big news for a team that put together back-to-back victories only one other time.

"The last few weeks, we've played well," Whitney said. "We've been out of only a couple of games. We have confidence now. It's feeling good. We know we can put a streak together."

Of course, two of the victories in Washington's streak have come at the expense of the almost-as-woeful Hawks (14-27). Atlanta lost to the Wizards for the second in six days and has five straight defeats overall.

"The worst thing about it, we've got to come back tomorrow (at Cleveland)," said Jason Terry, who led the Hawks with 31 points. "I'm not going to deny it. It hurts, it hurts real bad."

Washington's victory mimicked a similar come-from-behind effort on Sunday at the MCI Center, when the Wizards ended a nine-game losing streak with a 94-90 victory over the Hawks.

Washington was bolstered by the return of Whitney, Mitch Richmond and Rod Strickland.

Richmond scored 18 points and assisted on the biggest basket of the game after missing 25 straight games with a knee injury. Strickland, who had missed 14 in a row because of disciplinary matters and a slight shoulder injury, added six points in 17 minutes.

Whitney missed his first game in nearly two years on Tuesday with a sprained ankle. But he returned sooner than expected.

"We have our team back," coach Leonard Hamilton said. "Now we can go out and play and bond together good."

Juwan Howard led the Wizards with 21 points, including a 14-foot jumper with 26 seconds left that maintained the six-point cushion.

Atlanta was on top most of the way, only to blow it in the fourth quarter. The Wizards went ahead for the first time on Strickland's jumper with 7:52 remaining, then outscored the Hawks 20-7 over the final six minutes.

Whitney was able to push off enough on his ankle to make four of six from outside the 3-point arc, including one with 57 seconds remaining that essentially sealed the victory.

Richmond set up the basket by feigning a drive into the lane, luring Terry away from his man. Richmond flipped a no-look, behind-the-back pass to an open Whitney, who drained the 3 to give the Wizards a 100-94 lead.

"He throws a behind-the-back, bowling-ball pass, and they guy hits a 3," Terry said, shaking his head. "You want them to shoot a shot like that. Some things you can't control."

Despite the second-worst record in the league, Washington played with much more emotion than the Hawks. The guys on the bench were jumping around much of the final quarter, exhorting their teammates; the Atlanta reserves sat emotionless at the other end of the court.

The Hawks built a 10-point lead before the game was six minutes old, were up by 14 late in the third quarter and took an 81-72 lead to the final period. But they couldn't hold off the Wizards.

Washington shot a blistering 65 percent (11-of-17) in the fourth and was perfect at the foul line, hitting all 10 attempts.

Atlanta, on the other hand, shot just 35 percent (7-of-20). The Hawks rarely went inside, drawing just one foul that earned a trip to the foul line.

"That fourth quarter hurt us so bad," Terry said. "That's been our downfall all year long."

Game notes
Howard wagged his finger at Dikembe Mutombo after scoring over the Hawks' 7-foot-2 center, mimicking Mutombo's trademark move. ... Washington won for only the fourth time in 23 road games. ... The Hawks dropped to 10-11 at Philips Arena. ... Richmond's described his rehab from a partially torn ligament in his left knee: "I've been playing a lot of one-on-one to get to this point."
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Washington Clubhouse

Atlanta Clubhouse

Where's Mr. Wizard? Jordan defends management style


RECAPS
Philadelphia 105
Detroit 89

Washington 106
Atlanta 99

Boston 99
Phoenix 83

Houston 106
Vancouver 89

Seattle 107
Golden State 105

LA Lakers 113
New Jersey 101

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.