Going back home to where it all began to North Carolina he erupts for 51 points, 43 in the second half; Hamilton to miss four to six weeks.

Michael Jordan drives hard past Charlotte forward Lee Nailon for two of his 51 points.


by Fred Schiebel, Head Writer
 
CHARLOTTE -- Christmas was extended one more day for Michael Jordan.

Apparently receiving a time machine as a gift, he exploded for 51 points in the Wizards 117-98 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday nights. Not only that, he poured in 43 of those in a single half. The second half.

"Michael just doesn't stop," coach Doug Collins said. "Every day I'm here, somehow he ends up topping himself. After all these years, I'm consistently left in total awe."

"Fifty-one is something I didn't imagine," Charlotte forward P.J. Brown said. "I still don't believe it."

Jordan demolished a couple of records during his spree: hm, most points scored, oldest player (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 38 points, also set when he was 38 years old) and Washington's record for most points in a half (33, set by Jeff Malone). He also broke the Washington franchise record for most points in a quarter, 23, set by Bernard King

A North Carolina native, Jordan captured two national championships with the Tar Heels, who play their home games just 140 miles from Charlotte. He was 14-3 on the road against the Hornets in a 13-year career with the Chicago Bulls and averaged 31.7 points per game, his best mark against any team.

Jordan's return had the same effect at Charlotte Coliseum it has had in every NBA arena. The Hornets had a capacity crowd for the first time since last season's Eastern Conference finals against Milwaukee.

"We had a full house, what more motivation do you need?" asked Brown. "You could feel the energy from tipoff."

With star guard Richard Hamilton placed on the injured list due to a groin pull that is expected to sideline him for at least four to six weeks, you could say Washington wasn't in the highest of spirts entering this game.

"Yeah, it's definitely a huge challenge," Jordan said. "But one I obviously think we can overcome. I don't have to score 50 every game, but I hope I've shown we can reach and push and figure out some way every night to keep getting wins. Anything's possible."

There was no indication it would be any kind of magical evening for Washington at the outset. The Hornets began the game by hitting 73 percent from the field in the first quarter, running up a 35-23 advantage, with almost every player getting in on the action. David Wesley led with ten points, Elden Campbell and P.J. Brown had eight each, and Baron Davis had seven while doling out an amazing nine assists. Meanwhile, Jordan started out 1 for 6, as Hamilton's replacement Hubert Davis did most of the scoring, pouring in 13 points in the first twelve minutes.

"I was rusty from the time off," Jordan said, referring to the three days in between games. "It took me awhile to get back into a rythym.."

In the second quarter the Wizards fortunes began to change. Baron Davis got called for his third personal foul while trying to stop rookie Kwame Brown from dunking. Tyronn Lue then took advantage of his replacement, Bryce Drew, scoring 12 points in the period. Courtney Alexander, freshly reactivated from the injured list, exploded back onto the court, hitting on all of his first four shots. A Jordan jumper at the free throw line gave the lead back to Washington for a split second, but the Hornets soon put their starters back in the game and retook control, finding themselves ahead again 58-53 at halftime.

At that point, Jordan had a mere eight points, going 4 of 15 from the field.

"It wasn't my greatest half," he said. "but you never know when those will come, so you just got to keep putting the ball up."

He doubled his point total in less than three minutes into the second half, clearly looking to score. He displayed his entire arsenal, racking up 25 points in the third quarter, shooting the Wizards right past the Hornets and into the catbird seat, 87-77.

"It's been awhile since I felt that good on the court," Jordan said. "Like, years."

It looked as if that was the last the crowd would see of Jordan for the nights, as two Alexander drives increased Washington's lead early in the fourth. A Baron Davis three cut the score to 91-80, and Collins wasted no time in putting his hot hand back into the game. He continued right where he left off, an array of jumpers, layups, and fadeaways keeping the Hornets hopes for a win out of reach.

Everyone began to see the possibilities. But with less than two minutes to go, with his point total at 45 and appearing fatigued, Jordan missed a fingeroll underneath.

"I had started to think about 50, but when I blew that one, I thought the opportunity was probably over. Maybe because it was such an easy shot. If I missed that, I realized I might not make anything else."

With 42.4 seconds left, he connected on another lay-in. The next possession he was fouled, hitting both free throws, 49. In quite the Rocky IV moment, the Hornets fans had completely switched sides, rooting for their favorite son loudly.

"No, I understand," point guard Baron Davis said, when asked about the fans' exuberance toward a visiting player. "Look at what he's done. Look at what he was in the middle of doing. The guy has earned it, every last bit."

Charlotte missed the next time down the floor, and Washington got the ball back one last time. Dribbling on the left wing with the entire crowd standing up and screaming in unison, Jordan called for a screen from center Brendan Haywood, who complied. Jordan used it, letting one last 18 footer fly.

Swish.

Washington then took the foul with 5.3 seconds remaining, allowing Jordan to exit the game to a thunderous ovation.

"It was incredible moment," Charlotte coach Paul Silas said. "He can really do anything."

That is what the evidence appears to indicate, yes.