Advertisement

For Seattle, No Stopping Wizards

Share
From Associated Press

Caron Butler fed Antawn Jamison for a dunk, then reached out to slap palms with Washington Coach Eddie Jordan, an in-game celebration of an easy victory.

Meanwhile, Seattle Coach Bob Weiss put his hands on his hips, looking increasingly frustrated by another poor road showing.

Gilbert Arenas scored 32 points in 31 minutes, Butler had a season-high 24, and Washington pulled away early then kept pouring it on to beat Seattle, 137-96, Friday night, the SuperSonics’ third consecutive lopsided loss away from home.

Advertisement

Washington hadn’t broken 100 points in a game this season, but the Wizards reached that mark with 2:04 left in the third quarter, on a running jumper by Butler, a reserve who came over from the Lakers in the Kwame Brown trade.

It’s the first time since Feb. 22, 2000, against Milwaukee that Washington scored at least 100 before the fourth quarter. The Wizards’ point total also eclipsed their MCI Center record of 126 from that game.

San Antonio 103, Boston 82 -- The Spurs pulled away in the third quarter at Boston for their 16th consecutive win over the Celtics. They outscored the Celtics, 34-15, for an 81-59 lead entering the fourth quarter. Bruce Bowen made three three-point shots in the first seven minutes of the third quarter, helping the Spurs take a 73-51 lead.

Dallas 98, Charlotte 88 -- Dirk Nowitzki shrugged off a back problem with 23 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Mavericks at Charlotte, N.C.

Nowitzki was a game-time decision for the Mavericks because of a lower back strain that sidelined him for the second half of Wednesday night’s loss at Philadelphia.

The Bobcats lacked offensive power with leading scorer Gerald Wallace (16.2 points) out because of a chipped bone in his right wrist.

Advertisement

Cleveland 89, Memphis 70 -- The Cavaliers outplayed the Grizzlies at Cleveland, beating them to loose balls and outrebounding them, 49-29, while holding them to a season low in points.

Cleveland’s defense limited Memphis to 12 points on three-of-14 shooting in the third quarter when the Grizzlies went 9:03 between baskets, allowing the Cavaliers to take a 27-point lead.

Golden State 86, New York 84 -- Adonal Foyle scored the go-ahead basket with 48.9 seconds left, then grabbed a key rebound on the other end, and the host Warriors dealt the winless Knicks their fifth loss. Baron Davis stripped the ball from Jamal Crawford on the Knicks’ final possession.

Detroit 84, Portland 81 -- Chauncey Billups made two free throws with 9.3 seconds left and Zach Randolph missed a three-point shot at Portland. The Pistons (6-0) are the only undefeated team in the league and are off to their best start since going 8-0 in 1988-89.

Indiana 102, New Jersey 90 -- Ron Artest scored 30 points to lift the Pacers at Indianapolis. Jermaine O’Neal had 20 points, reserve guard Anthony Johnson had 15 of his 19 points in the third quarter, and Stephen Jackson scored 15.

Sacramento 101, Denver 85 -- The Kings beat the Nuggets for the 18th consecutive time at Arco Arena. The Nuggets last won in Sacramento on Jan. 7, 1997.

Advertisement

Utah 99, Toronto 84 -- Mehmet Okur had 29 points and 12 rebounds at Toronto to lead the Jazz over the winless Raptors, who are 0-5 for the first time in their 11-year history.

*

The NBA fined Golden State Coach Mike Montgomery $25,000 and guard Jason Richardson $20,000 for failing to leave the court in a timely manner and for verbal abuse of an official after Wednesday night’s 85-84 road loss to the Chicago Bulls.

Advertisement