Michael Jordan scored 10 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Washington Wizards to an 89-74 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday.
Jordan shot just 5-for-14 from the floor in the first three quarters, but made four jump shots, a driving layup and a finger roll during a decisive 15-4 run. He shot 11-for-22 in the game.
While Jordan struggled, the Wizards counted on Larry Hughes for their offense. Hughes scored 20 points and sparked a 21-6 third-quarter run that helped Washington overcome a sluggish first half in which it scored just 39 points.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Juwan Howard scored 25 points for the Nuggets, who lost their third straight. Howard scored 15 first-half points against his former team.
Spurs 87, Rockets 82
In San Antonio, Tim Duncan scored 32 points and converted a tiebreaking 3-point play in the final minute, as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Houston Rockets.
The Rockets erased a 13-point Spurs' lead in the fourth quarter despite star point guard Steve Francis and center Yao Ming spending the entire period on the bench. Yao played 24 minutes and had 11 points and eight rebounds.
David Robinson added 14 points and Tony Parker 11 for San Antonio. Cuttino Mobley and Morris led the Rockets with 15 each, while Taylor and James Posey both contributed 10.
Bulls 115, Hawks 102
In Atlanta, Jalen Rose matched a season high with 37 points and Marcus Fizer added 24, helping the Cs ahead for good.
Guard Voshon Lenard led the Raptors with 22 points in a reserve role while Morris Peterson and Alvin Williams each added 13.
Trail Blazers 99, Grizzlies 87
In Memphis, Tennessee, Bonzi Wells scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and Jeff McInnis added 15 points off the bench to lead the Portland Trail Blazers over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Portland, playing its second game without leading scorer and rebounder Rasheed Wallace who is serving a seven-game suspension, had six players in double figures, including three reserves.
Scottie Pippen matched Wells' 14 points and added five assists, whilp champion Detroit for first place in the Central Division.
Meanwhile, the defending Eastern Conference champions fell to 1-10-1-1 in their last 13.
Hornets 114, Suns 102
In New Orleans, David Wesley scored 28 points, hitting five 3-pointers, to lead the New Orleans Hornets over the Phoenix Suns.
Wesley's fifth 3-pointer gave New Orleans its largest lead, 89-72, early in the fourth quarter. He entered having averaged more than 21 points his previous seven games.
Jamaal Magloire scored a season-high 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds for New Orleans.
Jamal Mashburn added 19 points, while Baron Davis had 18 points and nine assists for the Hornets, who made nearly 53 percent of their shots.
Timberwolves 89, Raptors 81
In Minneapolis, Kevin Garnett had 19 points and 15 rebounds and the Minnesota Timberwolves held on despite a late 16-5 run by Toronto to beat the Raptors.
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