A week after helping Miami break their nine game losing streak, Washington lends another helping hand, turning in their most attrocious performance yet this season to help Houston win their first in seven tries. Jordan plays, but gets fatigued.

Michael Jordan tries to slip through an array of Houston defenders.

by Fred Schiebel, Head Writer



HOUSTON -- Apparently even teams that are cellar-dwellers in the Western Conference are also undefeatable monsters.


The Wizards came into town hoping for an easy win but instead received a horrible embarrassment as they were trounced by the Houston Rockets, 86-63, in front of a crowd of 16,285 happy fans. For not only did Houston get the victory (without leading scorer Steve Francis), Michael Jordan was able to play, albeit not up to his usual standards, scoring 16 points.

"I haven't touched the ball in five days," he said. "So yeah, I was a little rusty."

He didn't look rusty at all at the outset, sinking a fadeaway twenty footer from the baseline for the Wizards' first two points. Sadly, halfway through the first quarter it was still the only successful shot attempt for the entire team, as Washington found themselves accumulating a dreadful 1-13 mark from the field. By the period's end they had collectively only scored ten points. Luckily, they "held" Houston to only 18, so all was not lost.

With Jordan on the bench, the Wizards caught them early in the second at 20, their run punctuated by a fierce dunk by Courtney Alexander. Houston rebuilt their advantage back to seven, but a Chris Whitney three pointer at the halftime buzzer cut the deficit to just four, 37-33. Jordan at that point looked like his usual self, scoring 12 points (5-11 FGs). Richard Hamilton missed all eight of his field goal attempts in the first half.

"I don't know what to tell you, I definitely don't think it's a relapse," Hamilton said, referring to the awful start he had this season. "Some nights they go in, some nights they don't. And some nights they really don't."

Houston upped the lead to eleven in the third, fueled mostly by Cuttino Mobley's ten points in the period. The Wizards once again were absymal, hitting only five of twenty shots. Jordan only attempted three, missing all of them.

"I felt good. I wasn't trying to overextend myself," Jordan said. "My wind was a question, but Doug (Collins) was very adamant about keeping my minutes down."

Then, a bit of controversy. Mobley did not cool down during the five minute break, exploding for another seven points in the first two minutes of the fourth. As he came down the lane to add to his total, Popeye Jones fouled him hard, injuring Mobley's shoulder. He had to leave the game, and Jones was issued a flagrant foul, as the Houston crowd roared boos.

"Anyone who knows me knows I'm not that kind of player," Jones said. "I just wanted to stop him. I definitely never want to hurt anybody like that."

Walt Williams hit the two free throws, and Tierre Brown hit a jumper, sending the Wizards down fifteen, 72-57.

By the time Jordan checked in at the next dead ball, the game was getting out of control, powered by the angry frenzy of the crowd. He immediately tried to penetrate the lane, but was swatted. Houston jumped out on the break, and a layup by Moochie Norris increased their lead to over twenty, 80-59, essentially killing all hope.

"We needed a win bad," Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "We've been out playing a miserable schedule on the road, so to come back home and get a little rest definitely put a lot more pep in our step."

Mobley finished with 25 points to lead the Rockets, even with his evening cut early.

In another move that also appeared a touch controversial, Wizards coach Doug Collins sent Richard Hamilton back in the game. In garbage time.

"No, there was no message being sent," Collins said. "We're playing Dallas next game. We're not sure how Michael's going to feel after tonight, and Rip was only 2 of 17 from the field. I wanted him to find his shot and get some of his confidence back, cause we're definiely going to need it."

And maybe a couple more MJs too.