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Wednesday, December 17, 2003
Wizards Dance Around Jazz
Posted by WIZfan Webmaster
By Josh Barr
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 17, 2003; Page D01
With a two-point lead and less than three-second difference between the shot clock and game clock, Washington Wizards guard Larry Hughes dribbled down the right side of the lane into traffic, running smack into a mass of players. The whistle blew. For a brief second, there was a question about the forthcoming call.
"Maybe talking to the league this morning might have helped a little bit," Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan said jokingly, referring to his $5,000 fine for criticizing game officials after the team's previous game.
This time, the call went in the Wizards' favor, a blocking foul on Utah center Greg Oostertag. Hughes made the ensuing free throws, giving himself a season-high 38 points and securing a 91-87 victory over the Jazz last night before 12,097, the smallest announced crowd at MCI Center since April 15, 2001, before Michael Jordan returned to the court.
Several other players made key contributions as the Wizards (8-16) ended a four-game losing streak, but none came up bigger than backup center Brendan Haywood. Banished to the bench until late in the third quarter -- by which point the Wizards had blown a 14-point lead and trailed 61-55 -- Haywood entered the game and provided a much-needed spark.
Haywood ended Washington's five-minute scoreless stretch by banking in a shot in the lane while being fouled. Then Haywood passed to Kwame Brown for an open layup, made another shot while being fouled and made two free throws.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Haywood posted up for a turnaround shot from the right side that put the Wizards in front, 78-77. The next time downcourt, Haywood avoided a charge and passed to Brown for a fast-break layup and an 80-77 lead.
"He was probably the player of the game," Eddie Jordan said, noting that Haywood had sought him out for a meeting this week to discuss his role on the team.
"I said I want to play more," said Haywood, who had eight points, four rebounds and a season-high two assists. "He said I have to go out and produce more."
Although Haywood played well, starting center Etan Thomas re-entered late in the fourth quarter and he came up with a clutch defensive play. With the Wizards leading 89-87 in the final minute, Utah's Andrei Kirilenko drove the right side of the lane only to have Thomas provide defensive help and block the shot. The Wizards got the rebound and Utah (13-11) decided not to foul, setting up the final sequence in which Hughes was determined to draw a foul.
"I almost forgot how that felt," Jordan said, savoring the victory. "But I remember. It feels good."
Stuck in a small rut, having lost eight of their previous nine games, the Wizards got a pep talk yesterday afternoon from team owner Abe Pollin. According to Jordan, Pollin wanted to tell the players he still had confidence in the team and to keep playing hard.
"It's always good to hear that from your owner or [general manager] once in a while," Jordan said.
The Wizards took a 37-23 lead midway through the second quarter as point guard Steve Blake and backup Brevin Knight combined for seven assists without a turnover in the first half.
As has been the case for much of the season, the Wizards' best plays often came from hustling. After missing a wild shot in the second quarter, Hughes stole the ball and fed Thomas for a layup. Jared Jeffries (season-high 11 points, career-high 11 rebounds) posted up for a basket. Then Blake passed the ball across the court over Utah's 2-3 zone defense and Jarvis Hayes made an open three-pointer from the left corner.
"We talk about making plays down the stretch, Larry made plays throughout the game and down the stretch," Jordan said. "That's what we've been seeing from the opposition. We just played a solid, solid game."
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