LOS ANGELES, 19 March 2004 — Kwame Brown showed little respect for royalty. Brown collected career-highs of 30 points and 19 rebounds to help the lowly Washington Wizards snap a seven-game losing with a 114-108 victory over the visiting Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.
“We knew they were going to underestimate us,” said Brown, who was the top draft pick three years ago out of high school.
Brown made 12-of-16 field goals and six of seven free throws while playing the entire 48 minutes.
“I just felt confident tonight. I hit a couple of shots, and I felt like I couldn’t miss,” he said. “ I wanted the ball every time down.”
Brown’s two free throws with 23.6 seconds left gave the Wizards a 113-105 lead to seal the much-needed win.
Gilbert Arenas had 27 points, 10 assists, a career-best eight steals for Washington, (21-46), which is out of the playoff hunt.
“He’s growing up. He’s getting better,” said Wizards teammate Jerry Stackhouse who added 21 points. “To have 30 points and 19 rebounds and play the way he did was huge.” Peja Stojakovic scored 25 points and Mike Bibby added 20 in Sacramento’s third straight loss. “It is a shame when you let someone get their career points and rebounds against you,” said Kings Chris Webber who had 16 points and seven rebounds.
Celtics 104 Nuggets 100
Paul Pierce had 28 points and 11 rebounds as the green clad Celtics celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by edging the visiting Nuggets. Chucky Atkins had 21 points and 10 assists while Mark Blount added 17 points with 15 rebounds for Boston, which is one game from the eight and final Eastern Conference playoff berth.
Carmelo Anthony had 20 points and nine rebounds for Denver, which leads Utah by 1 1 2 games for the final Western Conference playoff spot.
Raptors 85 Jazz 81
Vince Carter scored 14 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to help the Raptors edge the visiting Jazz.
Jalen Rose and Donyell Marshall netted 17 points apiece for Toronto.
Utah got 25 points from Gordan Giricek while Andrei Kirilenko added 20, but missed a potential game-tying jumper in the closing seconds.
Pacers 80 Trail Blazers 71
Ron Artest scored 21 points, Reggie Miller added 18, and the Pacers closed on a 10-0 run, to improve their league-best-record to 50-17. Zach Randolph had 16 points for Portland, which had its four-game winning streak snapped after getting outscored 20-8 in the final frame.
Hornets 104 76ers 80
Baron Davis scored 20 points and rookie David West was a perfect 7-of-7 from the field en route to a career-best 15 points in the Hornets’ home win. Jamaal Magloire had 19 points and 12 rebounds for New Orleans while reserve Robert Traylor added 18 points and 10 rebounds. Allen Iverson scored 20 points and Aaron McKie added 15 in Philadelphia’s third straight loss.
Hawks 111 Mavericks 110
Stephen Jackson scored 31 of his 36 points in the first half, and the Hawks escaped after nearly blowing a 26-point cushion, to snap the Mavs’ nine-game home-winning streak.
Steve Nash scored 25 of his 30 points in the second half but missed a wild runner at the buzzer as Dallas fell to league-best 29-5 home mark. Dirk Nowitzki finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds.
Warriors 110 Magic 85
Troy Murphy collected 22 points and 10 rebounds off the bench while Erick Dampier had 13 points and 15 boards, leading the host Warriors to their second straight win following a season-high nine game slide. League-leading scorer Tracy McGrady pace Orlando with 18 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.
L.A. Lakers 106 L.A. Clippers 103
Kobe Bryant had 27 points and nine rebounds while Shaquille O’Neal added 21 points and 11 rebounds before fouling with just under two minutes left in the Lakers’ seventh win in the last nine games.
Karl Malone had 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists in his fourth game back after missing nearly three months with a sprained right knee.
Elton Brand led the Clippers with 26 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots. The Clippers had a chance to force overtime but Corey Maggette and Keyon Dooling missed 3-pointers to end the game.
