Washington Wizards coach Eddie Jordan, trying to teach all the way to the end, went with his younger players most of the night against the playoff-bound New York Knicks. It almost resulted in a win.
Almost.
The Knicks guaranteed themselves of no worse than the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference when the playoffs begin next weekend with a 102-98 overtime victory over the Wizards at MCI Center last night. The Knicks (38-42), who also went with younger players most of the game, secured the victory by hitting six straight free throws down the stretch and making 25 of 28 overall.
The Wizards (25-55), plagued by bad free throw shooting recently, continued their struggles, making just 18 of 28 from the line.
The Wizards got a career-high 22 points from rookie Jarvis Hayes, who was on the court at the end for the Wizards, when 26-year-old Etan Thomas (17 points, eight boards) was the oldest Washington player on the court.
“Once I made my decision with about six minutes to go, I decided to stay with the young guys unless someone fouled out,” Jordan said.
The only Wizards players to play more than Thomas (32 minutes) last night were second-year forward Jared Jeffries (35) and Hayes (37). Gilbert Arenas and Larry Hughes played 28 and 26 minutes, respectively, combining for just 14 points.
The night before, when Arenas hit a 27-footer at the buzzer for an 83-80 win over the 76ers in Philadelphia, Arenas and Hughes played 43 and 33 minutes, respectively.
“I would be apprehensive to put one of those guys in even then because I know my team and my personnel,” Jordan said. “I thought coming off cold in that situation would be tough for us.”
The Wizards have just two games remaining, neither against Atlantic Division teams. Washington finished the season 3-20 against division opponents.
Tim Thomas led the Knicks with 22 points. Mike Sweetney, a rookie from Georgetown, posted career highs in points (15) and rebounds (12). Maryland native DeMarr Johnson also added a career-high 22 points as New York coach Lenny Wilkens also went with his less experienced players. Stephon Marbury played just 22 minutes and finished with four points and six assists.
With the score 87-87, New York’s Dikembe Mutombo blocked a shot by Thomas, giving the Knicks a chance to win in regulation. However, New York failed to convert, and Jeffries grabbed the rebound with about 16 seconds to play. However, the Wizards’ one shot to win in regulation — a driving layup by Juan Dixon — rimmed out, and New York’s Moochie Norris failed on an almost length-of-the-court heave.
Back-to-back baskets by New York’s Frank Williams and Sweetney put the Knicks up 96-92 with 1:38 left in overtime. But the Wizards responded with baskets by Hayes and Dixon to tie the game again.
However, Dixon fouled Williams with 14.5 seconds left, and Williams sank both free throws for a 98-96 New York lead.
Washington’s Steve Blake failed to convert a jumper after a timeout. At the other end, Norris sank a pair of free throws with 3.1 seconds to play to assure the victory for New York.
“I thought I was going to make it. I thought I was going to end the game,” said Blake, who scored 10 points.
Thomas easily provided the most memorable moment of the evening when he pounded home a two-handed slam over a challenging Mutombo early in the second quarter.
Thomas hung on the rim, tangled up with Mutombo. After he got down, Thomas was hit with a technical foul for mimicking Mutombo’s famous finger wag as he crossed halfcourt.
Only slightly less impressive was a one-handed dunk — this time without theatrics — that Thomas threw down on Mutombo in the fourth quarter to tie the score at 72-72.
Notes — Wizards forward Jerry Stackhouse missed the game with a sore ankle. … Tony Brothers, the referee who left the Wizards’ 85-77 loss at Utah on March23 with chest pains, worked last night’s game.
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