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| November 26, 2001 | Monday | Ramazan 10, 1422 |
Jordan’s Wizards end losing streak
WASHINGTON, Nov 25: Michael Jordan scored just 17 points despite playing a season-high 45 minutes, but he ended the longest losing streak of his career as the Washington Wizards beat the Boston Celtics 88-84 in overtime on Saturday.
Jordan made only 7-of-24 shots, missing a potential game-winner at the end of regulation — something that rarely happened in his championship days with the Bulls — and both shots he attempted in overtime.
But Christian Laettner hit the tie-breaking jumper with 8.6 seconds left in overtime and Richard Hamilton stole Boston’s inbounds pass and sank two foul shots.
After a basket by Boston’s Antoine Walker, Hamilton made two more foul shots to seal the victory as the Wizards ended their eight-game losing streak.
The Wizards squandered a 76-61 lead over the last six minutes of regulation as Jordan managed two points in the fourth quarter.
Jordan did contribute 11 rebounds, six assists and a steal, but he had to let his team mates take charge for a change.
Laettner opened overtime with a jumper and gave Washington the lead for good at 86-84 with another jumper.
He finished with 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting, while Hamilton chipped in with 16 points and Popeye Jones added 11 points and 10 rebounds for Washington.
Saturday’s results (home team in CAPS):
NEW YORK 78 Chicago 71
WASHINGTON 88 Boston 84 (OT)
DETROIT 91 Memphis 84
Charlotte 103 ORLANDO 101
CLEVELAND 100 Miami 96 (OT)
MINNESOTA 99 San Antonio 94
DALLAS 119 Phoenix 104
MILWAUKEE 95 Atlanta 88
SACRAMENTO 98 New Jersey 97
SENATORS LOSE
OTTAWA: The Thrashers managed just three shots on goal in the third period but they all went in the Ottawa net as Atlanta ended the Senators’s 11-game unbeaten streak with a 6-3 triumph on Saturday.
Ottawa had not lost since Oct 23, but shaky goaltending by Jani Hurme in the first period and a rough patch by replacement Patrick Lalime in the third cost the Senators the game.
The outburst that brought Ottawa’s franchise record-tying 9-0-2 run to a screeching halt took place in a matter of just 67 seconds on three successive shots despite the Thrashers getting outshot 17-3 over the final 20 minutes.
Marian Hossa’s powerplay goal 5:28 into the third period had lifted Ottawa into a 3-3 tie.
But Pascal Rheaume took a pass from rookie Ilja Kovalchuk and beat Lalime from a tight angle on the left side at the 8:43 mark to break the deadlock.
The pair also combined for a pair of goals in Atlanta’s three-goal first period, each setting up the other.
Saturday’s results:
LOS ANGELES 3 San Jose 1
Atlanta 6 OTTAWA 3
MONTREAL 5 Washington 3
NY ISLANDERS 5 Anaheim 3
TORONTO 2 Boston 0
New Jersey 5 FLORIDA 1
PITTSBURGH 3 Buffalo 1
ST LOUIS 5 Phoenix 3
COLORADO 2 Edmonton 0
—Reuters
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