Injury, Cold Jordan Can’t Slow Wizards

Michael Jordan couldn’t carry the load, and Richard Hamilton was hurt. It was going to take a team effort in the fourth quarter to give the Washington Wizards their eighth consecutive victory--and they got it.

Hubert Davis scored 19, and Popeye Jones added 13 points and a season-high 14 rebounds as Washington defeated the short-handed Orlando Magic, 93-75, Friday night at Orlando, Fla.

Washington last had an eight-game winning streak in the 1982-83 season.

“This is probably the most impressive of the eight,” said Jordan, who scored 12 points but made only three of 16 shots. “Guys really stepped up when Rip [Hamilton] went down.”

Jordan had five of his game-high eight assists in the final quarter, when Davis and Tyronn Lue helped Washington pull away from a 64-64 tie.

“The other guys started to step forward, and I started to see that they had the confidence,” Jordan said. “So I fell in line. I’m not too old to learn.”

Davis, who had nine points in the final 10 minutes, credited the win to sharp passing and playmaking.

“We’re hitting the open man, we’re making penetration and we’re hitting the guy in rhythm,” said Davis, who was averaging 6.9 points. “Guys are knocking them down. It looks really nice.”

But the Wizards may have lost the player most responsible for the winning streak. Hamilton pulled his right groin in the first quarter and didn’t return. Hamilton, averaging 20.3 points, had eight points in eight minutes.

Washington Coach Doug Collins said Hamilton is day to day.

Jordan admitted that when Hamilton went down, he thought about taking over the game. “I felt panic in the sense of just trying to pick up his load and do a little bit more and not relying upon the young guys and letting them see if they could pick it up,” he said.

Mike Miller’s 14 points led Orlando, which had a season-low in points. Troy Hudson and Darrell Armstrong each had 13.

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San Antonio 109, Denver 74--The Spurs won their 10th consecutive game and took over first place in the Western Conference as Tim Duncan had 21 points at San Antonio.

David Robinson and Tony Parker scored 14 points apiece and Charles Smith added 12 for the Spurs.

Portland 83, Detroit 81--Rasheed Wallace had 22 points and nine rebounds as the Trail Blazers shook off the home crowd’s boos.

Damon Stoudamire had 17 points and six assists, and Dale Davis had 13 points and 14 rebounds for the Trail Blazers.

Philadelphia 94, Atlanta 83--Allen Iverson scored 12 of his 24 points in the third quarter, and Derrick Coleman had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the 76ers at Philadelphia.

Jason Terry scored 22 and reserve Mark Strickland had 17 for Atlanta, which has lost three consecutive games after winning three in a row.

Indiana 100, New Jersey 94--Jermaine O’Neal scored 29 points, Reggie Miller had 16 and Al Harrington had 14 points and 11 rebounds at Indianapolis as the Pacers ended the Nets’ four-game winning streak.

Boston 98, Utah 92--Paul Pierce scored 36 points and Kenny Anderson had a season-high 18 to lead the Celtics to their fifth consecutive home victory.

The Celtics have won 11 of 13 games, improved to 16-8 overall and moved into a tie with New Jersey for first place in the Atlantic Division.

Minnesota 94, Charlotte 89--Kevin Garnett had 20 points and 14 rebounds at Minneapolis as the Timberwolves ended a three-game losing streak.

Cleveland 86, Miami 81--Jumaine Jones had 18 points, including two free throws with 12.1 seconds left in overtime, and 15 rebounds for the Cavaliers at Miami.

Seattle 111, Golden State 108--Rashard Lewis hit a follow shot with 13 seconds left in overtime and Gary Payton made two free throws eight seconds later at Oakland as the SuperSonics beat the Warriors for the ninth consecutive time.