Jordan Enjoys Another Garden Party

Just as he did in the past, Michael Jordan added to the New York Knicks’ misery.

Jordan had another Madison Square Garden moment to remember Saturday night, making a tiebreaking jump shot with 3.2 seconds left as the Washington Wizards rallied to defeat the Knicks, 87-86, for their ninth consecutive victory.

“Sometimes you just have a favorite place to play,” Jordan said. “This has always been one of my favorite places, and I didn’t play particularly well the last time I was here.”

The winning streak matches the longest in franchise history. The Wizards, who were without second-leading scorer Richard Hamilton (strained groin), rallied from a 10-point deficit in the final six minutes.

On the winning play, Jordan was isolated at the top of the key against Latrell Sprewell. Taking two quick steps to his right, Jordan pulled up from 16 feet and made the jumper for an 85-83 lead as Sprewell and Allan Houston lunged at him.

“He’s so good at shot-faking that I tried to stay down, and that’s what I did,” Sprewell said. “I really wasn’t happy with the [defense]. If I could have just gotten a hand up, you can live with that. But you have to be aware that he shot-fakes a lot.”

Chris Whitney sealed the victory with two free throws with 1.4 seconds to play before Houston made a three-point basket at the buzzer.

Jordan, who tormented the Knicks before and had the only triple-double in All-Star game history when it was played at the Garden, finished with 26 points.

“It seems like when things are going well, when a team like Washington wins seven or eight in a row, they expect something good to happen,” Knick guard Mark Jackson said. “When a team like us is trying to fight and scratch and claw and is losing games, we almost expect something negative to happen.”

Houston and Kurt Thomas had 16 points apiece for the Knicks, who lost for the sixth time in seven games and had their home losing streak extended to four games.

*

Dallas 102, Orlando 80--Tim Hardaway, finally getting comfortable in a reserve role, scored a season-high 18 points for the Mavericks at Dallas.

Hardaway made four three-point baskets and Wang Zhizhi had three, including two to start an 18-8 run early in the second quarter that paved the way for the Mavericks’ sixth consecutive victory.

The Magic shot 33% and lost its seventh of nine.

Mike Miller led the Magic with 20 points. Patrick Ewing had 16.

Houston 115, Milwaukee 110--Cuttino Mobley made seven three-pointers and scored a season-high 39 points at Houston as the Rockets ended a 15-game losing streak.

Houston made a franchise-record 17 three-pointers.

Eddie Griffin scored 24 points, Walt Williams 22 and Moochie Norris 19 for Houston.

Glenn Robinson led Milwaukee with 29 points and Sam Cassell had 28.

After Williams made a three-pointer to give the Rockets a 105-102 lead, Cassell answered with a three-pointer, tying the score, 105-105, with 1:10 remaining.

Griffin’s three-pointer and Kelvin Cato’s three free throws moved Houston ahead, 111-105, with 19 seconds left.

Minnesota 95, Chicago 74--Wally Szczerbiak had 19 points, and Kevin Garnett had 14 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists for the Timberwolves at Chicago.

Marcus Fizer was the only bright spot for the Bulls, who have lost six in a row, including three consecutive at home.

Fizer scored 25 points on 10-for-18 shooting. He scored nine points in the second quarter.

Phoenix 102, Portland 90--Stephon Marbury overcame foul trouble to score 14 of his 22 points in the last six minutes, rallying the Suns at Phoenix.

Tony Delk had 27 points and a career-high 12 rebounds in a reserve role for Phoenix. Rodney Rogers had 18 points and Shawn Marion had 16.

Damon Stoudamire scored 27 points and Rasheed Wallace added 19 for the Trail Blazers.

Marbury scored 12 consecutive points on three three-pointers, a layup and a free throw, giving the Suns a 92-85 lead with 1:38 remaining.

Atlanta 101, Charlotte 88--Jason Terry scored 22 points and Dion Glover added 19, rallying the Hawks at Atlanta.

The Hawks fell behind by 14 points in the first quarter before switching to a zone defense that frustrated the Hornets. Charlotte shot 35% in the final three quarters.

David Wesley scored 26 points for Charlotte and Baron Davis had 19 points and 12 assists.

Indiana 109, Cleveland 103--Jermaine O’Neal scored a career-high 38 points at Cleveland and the Pacers shot a season-best 61%.

Andre Miller and Wesley Person each scored 20 points for Cleveland.

Reggie Miller made four of five three-point shots and finished with 18 points for Indiana.

It was the Pacers’ top shooting performance this season, besting the 52% they posted against Portland in November.

Utah 104, New Jersey 90--Karl Malone scored 31 points and was knocked to the floor by Kenyon Martin late in the game at East Rutherford, N.J.

Malone took a right forearm to the face from Martin as he drove on a fastbreak with 1:37 to play. The clothesline blow knocked Malone to the floor face first. He was down for about two minutes before getting up and finishing.

Martin received a flagrant foul and was ejected.

John Stockton had 15 points and 10 assists for Utah.

Keith Van Horn scored 24 points for the Nets and Jason Kidd had 17 points and eight assists.

Seattle 117, Detroit 89--Gary Payton scored 20 points at Seattle as the SuperSonics extended the Pistons’ losing streak to five.

Detroit’s Jerry Stackhouse was ejected with three minutes to go in the second quarter for arguing with referee Leon Wood. Stackhouse had 18 points.