Wizards achieve goal
Blue and white confetti fell from the rafters. The team owner gave a teary-eyed speech in the locker room. T-shirts were quickly distributed with the words: “One team. One goal. Washington Wizards playoffs.”
The Wizards are returning to the playoffs for the first time since 1997, securing their spot Wednesday night in Washington, following a 93-82 victory over the short-handed Chicago Bulls.
The victory came minutes before Indiana finished a 90-86 victory over the New Jersey Nets, giving the Wizards the combination they needed to clinch with a week to play in the regular season. Washington’s players remained on the court after their game to watch the Nets-Pacers conclusion, which was broadcast on the MCI Center’s huge scoreboard.
“It’s a wonderful day for the franchise,” said coach Eddie Jordan, who led the turnaround from a 25-57 season a year ago. “It’s a wonderful day for the city. I’m a fan as much as I am a coach. I’m happy for our city.”
Afterward, owner Abe Pollin met with the players to offer his congratulations. Pollin has been belittled for promising the playoffs nearly every season, and this time his team delivered.
“He wanted to cry,” point guard Gilbert Arenas said. “You see it in him. I know he’s happy, especially from all the hits he’s been going through the last few years.”
Larry Hughes scored 23 points, Arenas added 21, and Antwan Jamison had 19 points and 14 rebounds. The Wizards raced to a 22-point first-quarter lead and never trailed against the team they could meet in the first round.
The Wizards activated Brendan Haywood from the injured list and the center was in the starting lineup.
Pacers 90, Nets 86: At Indianapolis, Reggie Miller scored seven of his 22 points in a late 22-second flurry to help Indiana rally from a six-point deficit and clinched its eighth straight playoff berth by defeating New Jersey. Indiana has won eight of its last nine games and finished its remarkable run to the postseason after playing nearly half the season without four of its top six players including All-Stars Jermaine O’Neal and Ron Artest.
Celtics 111, Bucks 108: At Milwaukee, Paul Pierce scored 32 points, including the game-winning basket with 19 seconds left, and Boston topped Milwaukee to clinch a playoff berth. Boston’s magic number to clinch the title and the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs is two.
Rockets 100, Grizzlies 92: At Houston, Yao Ming scored 28 points and Tracy McGrady had 23 points, eight rebounds and eight assists to lead Houston over Memphis and to its fourth straight victory. Mike Miller led Memphis with a career-high 37 points on 15-for-24 shooting, but he missed his final two attempts in the Grizzlies’ last-ditch effort to overcome a 16-point deficit.
Jazz 93, Spurs 91: At Salt Lake City, Mehmet Okur had a putback with 2.4 seconds remaining and Utah spoiled Tim Duncan’s return and possibly San Antonio’s chances at the best record in the NBA. Duncan finished with 17 points and seven rebounds after missing 12 games with a sprained ankle.
Pistons 103, Magic 94: At Auburn Hills, Mich., Ben Wallace became the fifth player in NBA history to have 100 blocks and 100 steals in five straight seasons and six Pistons scored in double figures as Detroit beat Orlando. Wallace joined Hakeem Olajuwon, Julius Erving, Sam Lacey and David Robinson as the only players to have 100 blocks and 100 steals in five consecutive seasons.
Bobcats 105, Hawks 84: At Charlotte, N.C., Emeka Okafor had 17 points and 11 rebounds as the expansion Bobcats guaranteed they would not finish with the worst record in the NBA by beating Atlanta. The win was the 17th of the season for the Bobcats, who moved five games ahead of Atlanta with just four games to play.
Timberwolves 116, Warriors 100: At Minneapolis, Kevin Garnett posted his first triple-double of the season, finishing with 21 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists as Minnesota beat Golden State. This was his 17th career triple-double for Garnett, last season’s MVP.
Nuggets 116, Hornets 102: At Denver, Carmelo Anthony scored 19 points to lead seven Denver players in double figures and the Nuggets extended their winning streak to a season-high nine games by defeating New Orleans.
Off the court
Cleveland Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, out since dislocating his right ring finger April 5, practiced and will decide tonight whether he’ll play against the New York Knicks. … Longtime Sacramento Kings trainer Bill Jones died after a long bout with cancer, the team announced Tuesday. He was 69. … Milwaukee guard T.J. Ford, who has missed the entire season with a spinal cord injury, is improving and will soon be able to resume workouts. Ford bruised his spinal cord in a game on Feb. 24, 2004. Milwaukee general manager Larry Harris said Ford’s last MRI has shown he is finally getting better. … Guard DeShaun Stevenson and forward Pat Garrity of the Orlando Magic missed the game against the Detroit Pistons to attend to the birth of children.