| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
 GAME FLOW
DENVER (AP) -- Juwan Howard credits a coaching change for rejuvenating his game.
Howard, who has averaged more than 15 points and five rebounds
the past five games, had 22 points and 11 rebounds Thursday night
as the Washington Wizards dealt the Denver Nuggets their 10th loss
in their last 11 games, 100-86.
|  | | Wizards forward Juwan Howard blocks a shot by Denver's George McCloud. |
"The coach we had before wasn't giving me the ball," Howard
said. "I can't produce if I am not playing 30 to 40 minutes a
game."
When Michael Jordan took over as president of basketball
operations, one of his first moves was to replace coach Gar Heard
with Darrell Walker on Jan. 31.
"I was playing 25 minutes a game," Howard said. "You can't
get into the flow of the game like that."
Howard hit 10 of 21 shots for Washington, which is 9-26 on the
road but 3-2 in its last five road games.
Mitch Richmond added 22 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Reserve Aaron Williams had 15 points and Chris Whitney 14 points
for the Wizards, unbeaten in their last three trips to Denver.
"We beat them by keeping them out of the transition game and
made them play halfcourt basketball," Richmond said. "We put
pressure on Antonio McDyess and made it tough for him to get the
ball inside."
Nick Van Exel and George McCloud led Denver with 18 points each.
The Nuggets failed to score at least 90 points in three consecutive
games for the first time this year.
The Nuggets cut seven points off a 79-61 lead with a 9-2 run
with McCloud hitting a baseline jumper and a 3-pointer and Raef
LaFrentz hit a jump shot in the paint to get within 81-70.
Williams, a former Nugget, hit three straight jumpers and Tracy
Murray hit a shot from the corner and a 3-pointer to put Washington back ahead 92-74 with 3:50 left.
Leading 56-42 at halftime, the Wizards went on a 11-0 run to
start the third quarter with Howard providing five points to build
a 67-42 lead. The Nuggets went over four minutes without scoring,
missing their first 10 shots of the half before reserve Chris
Herren hit a 3-pointer.
With McDyess scoring five points over the next four minutes, the
Nuggets got within 73-56 with 3:01 left in the quarter. Richmond
and Murray hit two free throws each in the last two minutes as
Washington took a 17-point lead into the fourth quarter.
"We had a little more focus and tried to put them away in the
first five minutes of the quarter," Walker said. "They did have a
little run, but we buckled down defensively."
Nuggets coach Dan Issel was ejected late in the first half when
referee Steve Javie called two technical fouls on him. It was
Issel's fifth ejection of the season.
"I have been trying hard," Issel said. "I didn't say a word
to the man so I am not going to defend myself. I don't need
defending."
The Wizards led 25-21 after the first quarter and opened the
second quarter with a 9-2 run with Williams hitting a free throw
and 10-foot jumper in the lane to lead 34-23. Denver began going to the offensive boards, particularly Chris Gatling, who had five points after offensive rebounds and when Ryan Bowen put back a miss with 2:25 left, the Nuggets had cut the lead to 44-39.
Washington's lead was 49-39 when Van Exel was fouled with 61
seconds left in the half, but before he shot Issel was called for
his first technical. He then went onto to the court to challenge
the call and was hit with another one.
The Nuggets ended up with four technicals in the game, including
one against Gatling, who said: "We just have to fight through it.
We're playing against eight people -- the other five and three
refs."
Game notes
The Wizards placed guard Rod Strickland on the injured list and activated center Calvin Booth. ... Gerard King made his 16th consecutive start at small forward. ... Denver is 11-15 against Eastern Conference teams. ... Washington has 73 offensive rebounds in its last five games.
| |
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Washington Clubhouse
Denver Clubhouse
null
RECAPS
Milwaukee 105
Indiana 84
Cleveland 104
Dallas 98
Houston 110
LA Clippers 95
Washington 100
Denver 86
|
