Murray Racks Up 50 In Wizards’ Triumph

Tracy Murray scored a career-high 50 points to help the Washington Wizards overcome the absence of its top two scorers and beat the Golden State Warriors 99-87 Tuesday night in Oakland.

Murray’s points were the most for a player this season, one more than the 49 by Michael Jordan in a double-overtime game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 21 and by Boston’s Antoine Walker against Washington on Jan. 7.

Murray, normally Washington’s sixth man, finished 18 for 29 from the floor, including five 3-pointers. He also made 9 of 10 free throws, getting a standing ovation on his final one that gave him his 50th point.

Isaiah Rider scored 16 of his 24 points in the third quarter as the Portland Trail Blazers built a 31-point lead in the fourth quarter and held on to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 117-105 in Portland.

At Salt Lake City, the Utah Jazz outscored the Los Angeles Clippers 31-14 in the third quarter and held on after a Clippers rally for an 106-98 win.

Karl Malone had 29 points and 14 rebounds as the Jazz beat the Clippers for the 17th straight time in Salt Lake City.

Penny Hardaway’s first start in two months ended with a new injury and the Indiana Pacers allowed their fewest points ever in the NBA in an 85-66 victory over the Orlando Magic in Indianapolis.

Miami’s Hardaway, who was on the injured list from Dec. 8 to Jan. 29 after having surgery on his left knee, went to the bench with 1:06 left in the first quarter and never returned.

Anthony Mason received a mixed greeting of boos and cheers from his hometown in his first game since being charged with statutory rape as his Charlotte Hornets lost 99-91 to the New York Knicks in New York.

Toni Kukoc rescued the listless Chicago Bulls, scoring 19 of his 21 points in the second half in a 93-86 win over the scrappy Toronto Raptors in Chicago.

Rex Chapman’s one-handed running jumper with 1.8 seconds remaining gave the Phoenix Suns an 88-86 victory over the Sacramento Kings in Phoenix.

Marijuana testing gets support

Some of the National Basketball Association’s biggest stars favor mandatory testing of players for marijuana, breaking ranks with the players union.

The NBA is the only one of the four major North American professional sports leagues that doesn’t include marijuana among its banned substances.

The policy, in effect since 1984, has come under scrutiny recently because such high-profile players as Washington’s Chris Webber and Portland’s Isaiah Rider have been arrested on marijuana charges.

“We should be tested,” said All-Star center David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs. “It’s a no-brainer.”

Detroit All-Star Grant Hill was another in favor of testing.

All-star viewing third highest

Some 34 million people tuned in for NBC’s coverage of the National Basketball Association’s All-Star game, making it the third most-watched game in history.

Only the 1993 game, which drew 45 million viewers, and last year’s contest, which was watched by 35 million people, drew larger audiences.

Cavs coach fined

Cavaliers coach Mike Fratello was fined $5,000 by the NBA Tuesday for criticizing the referees last week.

After the Cavs’ 108-94 loss to Atlanta last Thursday, Fratello complained about a 52-17 discrepancy in foul shots.