Only Six Points for Jordan in Loss

Michael Jordan has never played this poorly in his NBA career.

Jordan scored a career-low six points on two-for-10 shooting as the Indiana Pacers beat the Washington Wizards, 108-81, on Thursday night at Indianapolis.

Jalen Rose scored 26 points and Jamaal Tinsley had 12 assists as the Pacers won their fourth straight.

Jordan failed to make a field goal in the second half. The last time Jordan failed to reach double digits was March 22, 1986, when he scored eight points against Cleveland. He had reached double digits in 866 consecutive games.

By the time he left the game for good with 3:23 remaining in the third, the Wizards trailed, 78-52. Jordan said he never thought about re-entering the game to score more points.

“I knew where I was in terms of that,” Jordan said. “I’m not here chasing any individual accolades.”

Utah 99, Portland 87--John Stockton scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half, and Karl Malone scored 13 fourth-quarter points as the Jazz overcame a 19-point first-quarter deficit at Portland, Ore.

Reserve Byron Russell added 18 points for Utah (15-15), which won its third straight and reached .500 for the first time since it was 3-3.

Bonzi Wells, playing in his first game in Portland since controversial remarks about Trail Blazer fans were published in Sports Illustrated, was welcomed with cheers when he entered the game in the first quarter.

Atlanta 100, Miami 96--Dion Glover scored 16 points, including a go-ahead three-point basket with 1:36 left, as the Hawks won at Atlanta.

The Heat set season highs with 38 points in the first quarter and 58 in the first half, and was within reach of its season-high of 99 points, but shot only three for 15 down the stretch.

Phoenix 84, Boston 82--Stephon Marbury sank a 22-footer with two seconds to play to give the Suns the win at Phoenix.

Penny Hardaway scored 10 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds for Phoenix, which split its season series with Boston.

New Jersey 88, Detroit 75--Jason Kidd had 18 assists and Kenyon Martin scored 21 points to lead the Nets at Auburn Hills, Mich.

The Nets won for the second night in a row and are off to the best start in franchise history with an 18-9 record.

Dallas 89, Chicago 74--Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 of his 24 points in the first quarter as the Mavericks cruised at Dallas and stretched their season-high win streak to eight.

The Mavericks last won eight in a row during the 1982-83 season. The club record is 11 straight in 1987-88.