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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Lowly Mavericks Shock Wizards In Washington

Associated Press

Michael Finley scored 27 points and A.C. Green had a season-high 25 points and 11 rebounds as the Dallas Mavericks shocked the Washington Wizards 103-77 Saturday in Washington.

Dallas improved its second-worst record in the league to 11-46 by handing Washington its worst defeat of the season. The Wizards’ previous largest loss was a 22-point setback to New York in November.

Rod Strickland led the Wizards with 27 points and nine assists, but Washington couldn’t overcome a season-low 34.6 percent (28 for 81) shooting from the field.

Cedric Ceballos, making his first start since being traded to the Mavericks from Phoenix on Feb. 18, had 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Elsewhere in the league

Scottie Pippen scored a season-high 29 points and Dennis Rodman grabbed 18 rebounds in his return to the starting lineup as the Chicago Bulls defeated the Sacramento Kings 109-94 in Chicago.

Mitch Richmond outscored Michael Jordan 34-28 in a battle of All-Star guards but couldn’t keep the Kings from suffering their sixth consecutive loss.

Pippen missed the first 35 games after undergoing foot surgery and didn’t return until he rescinded a trade demand. He has helped the Bulls go 19-5 since coming back Jan. 10.

Rodman, going for his seventh straight NBA rebounding title, had been relegated to a reserve role the previous six games because he missed two practices.

At East Rutherford, N.J., Alonzo Mourning scored 11 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and grabbed 13 rebounds as the Miami Heat rallied from a 20-point third-quarter deficit and edged the New Jersey Nets 95-93.

The victory was Miami’s ninth straight overall and ninth in a row on the road. The Heat have won 13 of their last 14.

Miami, which entered the fourth quarter trailing 78-63, won it without Tim Hardaway, who was ejected after receiving two technical fouls with 4:51 to play in the third. They also lost Keith Askins, who was called for a flagrant foul and ejected with 6:39 remaining in the game.

At Charlotte, N.C., Anthony Mason had 24 points and 13 rebounds as the Hornets downed the Orlando Magic 90-80.

Leading 73-69 with 7:50 left in the game, the Hornets scored nine straight points the next 4 minutes, led by Mason with a slam dunk and a three-point play. The burst effectively put the game out of reach.

All five starters scored in double figures for the Hornets, who won their fourth straight.

At San Antonio, Avery Johnson scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half as the San Antonio Spurs rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit for a 100-88 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Johnson and Tim Duncan, who had 27 points and 17 rebounds, helped make up for the limited playing time of David Robinson. The All-Star center missed the previous six games with a right knee injury and played just 24 minutes against the Sixers, finishing with 17 points and eight rebounds.

Longley sidelined

Chicago Bulls center Luc Longley didn’t play Saturday night against the Sacramento Kings due to a hyperextended left knee.

Longley, a starter as the Bulls won each of the last two NBA titles, suffered the injury Monday against Cleveland. He tried to play Wednesday against Portland, but was badly outplayed by Arvydas Sabonis as the Bulls suffered a rare home loss.

Longley, whose 11.5-point average ranks fourth on the team, will be re-evaluated before Chicago’s next game, Tuesday against Denver.

Divac back in action

The Charlotte Hornets activated center Vlade Divac on Saturday and placed forward Tony Farmer on the injured list.

Divac has missed 18 games because of a chipped shin bone in his left leg.