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Atlanta Hawks' Al Horford (15) goes to the basket against Washington Wizards' Antawn Jamison (4) and Caron Butler (3) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 17, 2008, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) ------ 1 col. full Black & White Page B5
Washington's Roger Mason (right) collides with Atlanta's Acie Law during a battle for a rebound last night. |
BY ADAM HIMMELSBACH
WASHINGTON--
A message on the dry-erase board in the Wizards' locker room told the players that their flight to Florida will leave at 1 p.m. today.Washington will play road games against the Orlando Magic and the Miami Heat, giving it a potentially warm and sunny road trip. But for the Wizards, the infamous South Beach nightlife will include pillows rather than parties.
Following Washington's 105-96 loss to the Atlanta Hawks at the Verizon Center last night, coach Eddie Jordan said that for the first time under his watch, the players will have a nightly curfew.
"We've never had curfews before," Jordan said, "but we're putting our team in focus to have a business trip, just so they know we mean business."
The players' reaction to Jordan's plan was unenthusiastic but understanding.
"This is the time of year you need to rest your body and your mind and do what's best for the team," point guard Antonio Daniels said, "and if a curfew calls for that, so be it."
Last night, the Wizards (33-33) seemed to go to sleep early against the Hawks. They converted just one field goal over the final 6 minutes of the game, as Atlanta cruised to the victory.
Mike Bibby, who was acquired by Atlanta (29-38) in a trade with the Sacramento Kings last month, made 5 of 6 3-pointers and scored a team-high 23 points. The Hawks converted 55.4 percent of their field-goal attempts.
Antawn Jamison led the Wizards with 25 points, but the injuries that have defined this season for Washington have not gone away.
Both Caron Butler, who recently returned from a hip injury, and Daniels are dealing with left wrist injuries. Daniels, who suffered the injury when his left hand was caught in an opponent's jersey recently, said the pain has affected his ability to go to his left. Butler, who injured the wrist when he fell to the floor against Cleveland last Thursday, left the trainer's room with his wrist in a brace.
Neither player expects to miss any games, but both said the injuries have affected them.
"It's something that comes with the territory," Daniels said. "We've been bumped and bruised all season, but I'm not gonna sit in front of you guys and make excuses."
Added Butler: "Some of the things I used to do I can't do right now. Everything I'm doing is right-handed."
With the loss, Washington's lead in the Eastern Conference standings has slipped to one-half game over the seventh-place Philadelphia 76ers. The Hawks, who have not reached the playoffs since 1999, now have sole possession of the eighth and final playoff spot.
"We're fighting right now; we're playing for something," Atlanta coach Mike Woodson said. "When you're in the hunt trying to secure a playoff spot, every second and minute on the floor you have to play like it's your last."
The Wizards trailed for the entire first half, but two free throws by Stevenson gave Washington a 57-56 lead early in the third period.
Atlanta responded with five consecutive points, and would not trail again.
The Hawks led, 96-92, with 3:30 left when rookie forward Al Horford scored inside. After a Wizards' miss, Josh Childress made a 20-foot fade-away jump-shot, leading many of the 16,227 fans to head toward the exits. Like the Wizards will in the coming days, the fans had a chance to get to bed early.
ATLANTA (105)
Williams 3-7 1-3 7, Smith 7-10 3-3 17, Horford 6-9 0-0 12, Johnson 8-20 1-1 18, Bibby 7-13 4-4 23, Childress 5-7 4-6 16, Law 2-4 0-0 4, Pachulia 3-4 1-2 7, Richardson 0-0 0-0 0, West 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 41-74 15-21 105.
WASHINGTON (96)
Butler 4-13 4-4 12, Jamison 10-21 4-5 25, Haywood 7-10 2-5 16, Stevenson 3-8 4-4 13, Daniels 3-5 2-2 8, Blatche 0-1 0-0 0, Songaila 2-6 0-0 4, Mason 6-8 0-0 14, Young 2-7 0-0 4, McGuire 0-0 0-0 0, Pecherov 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 37-81 16-20 96.
Atlanta | 29 | 25 | 30 | 21-- | 105 |
Washington | 24 | 29 | 24 | 19-- | 96 |
3-Point Goals--Atlanta 8-15 (Bibby 5-6, Childress 2-2, Johnson 1-6, Smith 0-1), Washington 6-17 (Stevenson 3-7, Mason 2-4, Jamison 1-3, Daniels 0-1, Butler 0-2). Rebounds--Atlanta 45, Washington 42. Assists--Atlanta 25, Washington. Total Fouls--Atlanta 19, Washington 15. Technicals--Washington defensive three second 2. Flagrant Foul--Butler. A--16,227 (20,173).
Adam Himmelsbach: 540/374-5442
Email: ahimmelsbach@freelancestar.com
HAWKS 105 |
