Six-time MVP Jordan gets the upper hand in first duel with current reigning MVP Iverson, as Washington beats Philly to inch up to .500.

Matt Harpring couldn't find a way to stop Michael Jordan,, even with help.


by Fred Schiebel, Head Writer


PHILADELPHIA -- Another young star, another victim.

Michael Jordan once again walked into a showdown and got the better of his opponent, leading the Washington Wizards to victory over MVP Allen Iverson and Eastern Conference champions the Philadelphia 76ers on their home floor on Sunday, 88-73. The win boosted Washington's record to 7-7 -- impressive, considering their difficult 0-6 start to the season.

"You people [reporters] are idiots," Philadelphia coach Larry Brown said."Here is a guy that hasn't played in three years and he completely controled the game. Because the team hadn't won people put the finger on him. I don't see them putting the finger on a lot of other guys who's teams are winning. I can't imagine anyone taking three years off and playing at his level.”

At first it looked like the battle might end up being an embarrassment, the kind of display that many Jordan fans feared when he announced his latest comeback. Iverson came out with guns blazing, hitting four of his first six shots for ten immediate points, raining jumpers from everywhere on the court. Jordan tried to answer back, but connected on a mere one of his first seven attempts.

"He [Iverson} definitely was looking to prove himself," coach Doug Collins said. "It felt like he was going to score 50 on us."

The real shock: Sixer small forward Matt Harpring -- i.e. the man Jordan was supposed to be guarding -- had ten points too, abusing him with what appeared to be a huge speed advantage, something that may have been due to the Wizards playing the 2nd game of a back-to-back.

"In all honesty, I am a little worn down," Jordan said. "But give him credit, he's a lot faster than most people probably assume, even me."

Up by seven, Sixer guard Aaron McKie hit a three pointer at the buzzer to extend the lead to double digits at the end of the first twelve minutes, 27-17.

Jordan located his shot in the second stanza, hitting four of six field shots. The Wizards recovered mostly due to their bench, however. Tyronn Lue, fresh off the injured list showed no signs of rust, scoring ten points in the second period. His benchmate, Courtney Alexander, also had ten points, missing only one of his five attempt. By halftime the deficit was cut to three, 48-45, Jordan scoring 10 points for the cause, while Iverson had 16 points for the enemy.

The Wizards sprung ahead in the third, holding Philadelphia to a mere 11 points and only a 25 percent shooting mark. Iverson, who had made half of his shots in the first 24 minutes (while Jordan was 5 of 13), was much less effective making only two of nine. Jordan hit three of four, and Washington found itself in the driver's seat, 65-59.

In a surprising development, Lue did not guard Iverson in the second quarter, but instead was placed on another Sixer speedster, backup point guard Speedy Claxton. Lue got the tougher assignment in the fourth, at least at the beginning. More surprisingly, he got the better of Iverson himself, who appeared fatigued, as Lue blew by him a couple times for layups, adding another eight points for a total of 18 in his first game back.

Then, a key stretch: Collins subbed Richard Hamilton in to take Iverson, but not before pounding his finger into Hamilton's chest telling him to focus everything he had to stop the league's MVP. The next play, with the Wizards up 78-71, Iverson drove lane. Hamilton stayed attached, disrupting the shot for a miss. On the fastbreak to the other end, Hamilton found Iverson on him and took advantage of the mismatch making the layup and getting hacked to up Washington's lead to ten.

The next play, Jordan sealed the deal. Hamilton missed a twenty foot jumper, but Wizard forward Christian Laettner got the offensive rebound. He found Jordan alone, set up for a corner three. Although he had only made one of his first eight attempts from behind the line so far this season, he swished this one, giving the Wizards a near insurmountable 84-71 advantage.

"I've been practicing since I missed that one in Indiana," Jordan said, smiling, referring to his last second three point attempt that would've been the gamewinner if it had went in.

The invidual battle between Iverson and Jordan was close, but most would probably say the 38 year old was slightly better, despite Iverson scoring more (28 points, to Jordan's 23) and grabbing 10 rebounds. Jordan shot better and was a key performer in the fourth quarter when it mattered most.

Perhaps the real MVP was the Wizards' defense -- they held the Sixers to a scant 25 points in the second half, 73 points total -- their best showing on that end of the court this year.

"We really wanted this game badly, as a unit," Jordan said. "Knowing how good of a defensive team they are, we knew that we had to bring a lot of effort to match their intensity. Hopefully we can do this every night, not just when we have an opportunity to get back to .500. I'm really proud of our progress."

Wins starting to pile up for what was a serial loser of a team. The current MVP, outplayed. Suddenly his latest comeback is not only looking respectable, he may just somehow find a way to top himself yet again.