Flat Wizards Fall to 76ers

The Washington Wizards were home, fighting for a playoff spot and facing a last-place Philadelphia 76ers team worn out from a tough road loss the night before.

With an uninspired, boo-and-hiss-inducing performance, the Wizards fell, 112-91, Wednesday night at Washington for their fourth consecutive defeat.

“This was a pathetic performance,” Washington Coach Bernie Bickerstaff said. “It was that simple. Every aspect of it. When you consider the urgency and what’s on the line, it was a collective non-performance.”

Derrick Coleman and Allen Iverson scored 30 points apiece for the 76ers. Tracy Murray led Washington with 18 points.

Milwaukee 106, Denver 100--Rookie Jerald Honeycutt scored a career-high 20 points, including three three-point baskets in the fourth quarter, to lead the Bucks at Denver.

The Nuggets (9-64) must win one of their final nine games to avoid tying the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers for the worst record in NBA history.

Danny Fortson scored 24 points and Cory Alexander had 23 for the Nuggets.

Boston 98, Orlando 87--Antoine Walker had 18 points and 15 rebounds, and the Celtics forced eight Magic turnovers in the fourth quarter at Orlando, Fla.

Dana Barros scored 17 points for the Celtics, who won for only the third time in their last 13 games.

Nick Anderson, who missed Orlando’s three previous games, scored 18 points for the Magic.

Cleveland 92, Detroit 90--Shawn Kemp had 26 points and 14 rebounds, and Brevin Knight scored 14 points and had 15 assists to lead the Cavaliers at Auburn Hills, Mich.

The victory kept the Cavaliers 1 1/2 games behind the Atlanta Hawks in the battle for the fifth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Pistons, who must pass three teams in the standings to make the playoffs, lost their fourth in a row.

Atlanta 105, Toronto 91--Alan Henderson scored 23 points as the Hawks improved to 12-0 against the Raptors with a victory at Atlanta.

Doug Christie and Gary Trent each scored 14 points for the Raptors.

Henderson, who has averaged 18 points since becoming a starter 21 games ago, was eight for 16 from the field and also had four assists. Mookie Blaylock had 16 points, eight assists and four steals for the Hawks.

Utah 98, Portland 89--Jeff Hornacek scored a season-high 31 points and Karl Malone had 29 at Salt Lake City as the Jazz averted a season sweep of their four games against the Trail Blazers.

The Trail Blazers tied the game at 79 on Walt Williams’ jumper with 6:47 to play, but Malone scored seven points in the next 3:19 and Portland made only four of its first 11 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Damon Stoudamire paced the Trail Blazers with 22 points and six assists.