Franchise futility


On Dec. 2, 1986 the Baltimore Bullets defeated the Boston Celtics at Boston Garden to avoid starting the season with eight consecutive road losses. Twenty-years later, to the day, the Washington Wizards unable to win their eighth road game set a franchise record held by those Bullets and the 1961-62 Chicago Packers, for consecutive road losses to start season by losing to the Chicago Bulls 112-94.

Throughout the first quarter the Wizards (6-10) fought to secure that elusive road victory. Down by seven the Wizards launched an 8-0 run to pull ahead of the Bulls 21-19. But the Bulls mounted their own 10 to 2 run to finish the quarter with a 29-23 lead.

Missing their first six shots of the second quarter the Wizards quickly found their six-point deficit stretched to double digits. The Wiz finished the second quarter shooting 5-of-21. The Bulls (7-9) playing rather bullish shot 60 percent from the field, converting on 12-of-20 shots. They outscored the Wiz 33-19 for the quarter to take a 62-44 half-time lead.

Andres Nocioni converted 5-of-6 shots in the second quarter, and shot 100 percent from the arc hitting three ‘3s. Nocioni finished the half scoring 20-points, and the game with 24. Ben Gordon with 28-points for the game, made 4-of-5 shots and converted 2-of-3 threes in the second quarter.

The Bulls stampede continued through the third quarter. In attempt to find some energy Coach Eddie Jordan emptied the bench by inserting James Lang, Andray Blatche, Donnell Taylor, Jarvis Hayes and Antonio Daniels; Roger Mason replaced Hayes at the close of the quarter. Although the seldom used bench players (Lang, Blatche, Taylor and Mason) did inject some much needed energy, the Bulls eventually built a 30-point lead before handing the Wizards their 10th defeat of the season.

Lang, playing in only his second game of his career, scored the first points of his career, finishing with seven. He also grabbed four rebounds and dished out two assists.

Caron Butler led the Wizards in scoring with 21-points on 8-of-15 shooting and in rebounding, grabbing 10. Etan Thomas was the only Wizards player who did not score.