Hot Jordan leads Wizards past Hawks

Michael Jordan scored 23 points in just 27 minutes as the Washington Wizards extended their season-high winning streak to seven games with a 103-76 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.

Jordan missed five of his first six shots but finished 11-of-19 and had six assists before sitting out the fourth quarter.

He caught fire in the second period, making nine straight shots as the Wizards built a 20-14 lead into a 49-33 advantage at halftime.

"I kind of got hot in the second quarter," Jordan said. "That was probably the best rhythm I have had since early in the season."

"It was fun to watch, I guess, from the outside but inside it wasn't that much fun," said Hawks forward Toni Kukoc, Jordan's former Chicago teammate who guarded him in the second period.

"Obviously, that's Michael. When he starts to hit the shots, it's very hard to guard him. It reminded me a little bit of the old Bulls's practises."

Jordan had two points through the first 17 minutes but 18 in the last seven for the Wizards who allowed their fewest points in the first half this season.

Richard Hamilton added 20 points and Jahidi White had 10 and 10 rebounds for Washington which last won seven in a row from March 30-April 14, 1996.

"We haven't won anything other than getting ourselves to a .500 record," Jordan said. "I think we are not going to jump the gun.

PLAYING BETTER

"We are playing better. We are competing a lot harder. We are trying to be a smarter team and our young kids are growing real fast, and that is helping us."

In Boston, Antoine Walker had 33 points and Paul Pierce added 25 as the Celtics held off the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-98.

Walker shot 12-of-18 and added 10 rebounds and nine assists, just missing his 10th career triple-double.

Walker's biggest shot was an uncontested three-pointer with 45 seconds left that gave the Celtics a 102-96 lead and sealed their seventh consecutive home victory over the Cavaliers.

Andre Miller scored 36 points for Cleveland.

In Indianapolis, Morris Peterson scored 10 of his career-high 29 points in the fourth quarter and drew a foul that sent Isiah Thomas into a tirade as the Toronto Raptors ended a season-high four-game losing streak with a 102-90 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Thomas vehemently argued the call and was ejected. Peterson made all four free throws for a 98-90 lead with 40 seconds left.

In East Rutherford, New Jersey, the Minnesota Timberwolves used a furious fourth-quarter rally to force overtime, only to drop a 117-112 decision to the red-hot Nets.

Minnesota erased a 19-point fourth-quarter deficit but then fell apart in overtime.

Jason Kidd had nine of his 33 points in the extra session, and Kenyon Martin finished with a career-high 31 points for the Nets who have won four straight games.

At 16-7, New Jersey has the Eastern Conference's best record and is off to its best start since entering the NBA in 1976.

In Orlando, Florida, reserve Pat Garrity scored 13 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter, including a clutch jumper in the final minute, as the injury-depleted Magic edged the Utah Jazz 98-90.

With the Magic clinging to an 87-86 lead, Garrity drilled a three-pointer with 43 seconds left, his third shot from the arc in the final period. Garrity was 6-of-10, including 4-of-5 from three-point range.

FREE THROWS

After Karl Malone missed a potential tying three-pointer with 33 seconds left, Darrell Armstrong hit a pair of free throws to give Orlando a 92-86 lead with 30 seconds to go.

Orlando won despite playing without All-Stars Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady. Hill had season-ending surgery on his left ankle on Wednesday morning and will be in a cast for the next month.

Armstrong had 24 points and nine assists for the Magic. Mike Miller added 21 points and Pat Ewing 11 and six rebounds.

Utah was led by Malone's 28 points and nine rebounds.

In Philadelphia, Lee Nailon scored a career-high 27 points and had a handful of clutch baskets as the Charlotte Hornets overcame the 76ers 94-85 for their first win here in nearly two years.

In his second year, Nailon moved into the starting lineup 16 games ago. He replaced Jamal Mashburn, Charlotte's leading scorer last season who is expected to miss at least another month with an abdominal injury.

Nailon made 12-of-19 shots.

Baron Davis had 19 points and seven assists for the Hornets.

Allen Iverson scored 38 points for the 76ers.

In San Antonio, Tim Duncan had 26 points and 12 rebounds as the Spurs shut down the Portland Trail Blazers and extended their winning streak to nine games with a 97-79 victory.

Rasheed Wallace scored 15 points on just 6-of-22 shooting as Portland shot less than 33 percent (25-of-76).

The Spurs scored the first seven points and never looked back. They led 24-15 after the first quarter and extended it to 50-35 at halftime behind Duncan's 15 points.