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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Led by a player nicknamed Simba, the
Washington Wizards ended a losing streak and finished the year like
a lion.
|  | | Detroit's Ben Wallace (3) does his best to distract the Wizards' Juwan Howard. |
Chris Whitney, getting his third consecutive start while
frustrated point guard Rod Strickland sat in street clothes,
overcame a sprained ankle and led a 12-0 third-quarter run as the
Wizards beat the Detroit Pistons 110-96 on Sunday night.
"I sometimes call him Simba because he has a heart like a
lion," said Juwan Howard, who had a season-high 35 points and got
more cheers than boos for a change from the home crowd. "He's a
small guy, but a tough guy."
The win broke a six-game losing streak. More importantly -- at
least for president of basketball operations Michael Jordan -- the
victory kept the Wizards (6-25) from falling below Jordan's old
team, the Chicago Bulls, for the worst record in the league.
Whitney, who hurt his ankle Friday against Miami, finished with
13 points and five assists. He made a steal, a 3-pointer and drew
an offensive foul during the 12-point run that turned a one-point
game into an 89-76 lead in the third quarter.
Whitney's steal led to a flagrant foul by Mateen Cleaves on
Howard on a fast break. Howard made both free throws, then Whitney
hit the 3-pointer for a five-point play.
As for the nickname given him by Howard, Whitney doesn't mind at all.
"It symbolizes strength," said Whitney, his left ankle soaked
in ice as he sat by his locker. "So I can live with that."
Jerry Stackhouse scored 25 points for the Pistons, who had three
players foul out as they lost their third straight. Afterward,
Detroit's players seemed perplexed by the rotation used by coach
George Irvine.
"I'm not the coach, man, I just go with the coach's
decisions," Stackhouse said. "You guys were watching the game.
The next night out might be a different story. Tonight wasn't
indicative of how we've been playing all year or how our rotation
has been all year. Maybe there's a message being sent, but I'm not
sure that the message is getting over."
Irvine did not speak to reporters after the game.
The Wizards had lost six in a row at home and 15 of 16 overall.
The performance was their best in weeks, and it came with three
projected starters -- Strickland, Mitch Richmond and Jahidi White --
injured on the bench.
Strickland's ailment was the most mysterious. The veteran point
guard, who missed two practices and was suspended for a game last
week, ended a four-day disappearing act when he showed up Sunday.
Strickland said his decision to leave the team for a few days
was "just frustration" over his lack of playing time in the New
York game the day after he missed his first practice.
Coach Leonard Hamilton said before the game he hoped the matter
was over and that he expected Strickland to play. Instead,
Strickland sat next to White one row behind the Wizards bench.
"Rod -- before the game, I think -- notified the trainer that his
hamstrings were sore, and that he didn't think he would be able to
play," Hamilton said.
Strickland has been complaining about hamstring problems most of
the season, but he had not missed a game until his suspension.
After the game, he was vague when asked about a timetable for his
return.
"I don't know," Strickland said. "Until it gets better."
Although playing shorthanded in front of a small New Year's Eve
crowd, the Wizards came out with enthusiasm and equaled their best
quarter of the season by scoring 36 points in the first.
Detroit rallied with all five starters on the bench, with
John Wallace leading five substitutes who narrowed the gap to 46-43
in the second. The Pistons starters came back late in the second,
and Stackhouse scored 10 points in less than 4 1/2 minutes to give
Detroit a short-lived lead.
But Whitney and Howard teamed to put the Wizards back in control
in the third period, and the Pistons didn't threaten the rest of
the way. Howard made 10 of 15 shots, 15 of 17 free throws and had
seven rebounds. Richard Hamilton scored 21 points off the bench.
"I'm hoping this is a new year," Hamilton said. "And we can
put the things that happened in the last year behind us."
Game notes
The 110 points was a season high for the Wizards. ...
Washington's Obinna Ekezie had a career-high eight rebounds. ...
John Wallace scored a season-high 21 points for the Pistons.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Detroit Clubhouse
Washington Clubhouse
Strickland sighting: Point guard returns to Wizards
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Jerry Stackhouse Official Site
Juwan Howard Official Site
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