Jordan's Wizards deal Celtics record defeat

<br>WASHINGTON (AP) _ Michael Jordan and the Washington Wizards handed the Boston Celtics their worst defeat in franchise history Thursday with a 114-69 win. <br><br>Shaking off a rusty performance that

Friday, November 1st 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Michael Jordan and the Washington Wizards handed the Boston Celtics their worst defeat in franchise history Thursday with a 114-69 win.

Shaking off a rusty performance that made him look his age the night before, Jordan scored 21 points in 21 minutes.

The 45-point loss topped Boston's previous worst of 42 points, a 128-84 loss at Portland on Jan. 4, 1977. It was the third-biggest margin of victory in Wizards history.

Jordan scored just eight points and missed a dunk in the second half of Wednesday's season-opening loss at Toronto, but he passed that tally in the second half alone against the Celtics. The 39-year-old guard shot 8-of-15 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free-throw line. He had four rebounds and five assists.

Kwame Brown, a disappointment as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft a year ago, had his second solid game in a row. He set the defensive tone with four blocks in the first quarter and finished with 20 points, six rebounds and six blocks.

Jerry Stackhouse added 22 points and 10 assists.

The Celtics shot just 30 percent one night after they lost their opener at home to Chicago.

Hawks 105, Jazz 98

In Atlanta, Glenn Robinson scored 30 points, and Jason Terry added 21 points and 13 assists as Atlanta beat Utah in its home opener.

Robinson, who came to Atlanta in an offseason trade with Milwaukee, had 34 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in his Hawks debut Wednesday night _ a 104-95 loss at New Jersey.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who missed the opener with a sore back, scored 10 of Atlanta's points in a 15-6 run at the start of the third period for a 65-52 lead.

Karl Malone led Utah with 20 points. Terry's 13 assists matched a career high.

Kings 100, Trail Blazers 72

In Sacramento, California, Peja Stojakovic scored 26 points, and Bobby Jackson had 20 points and 10 rebounds as Sacramento overcame the absence of three starters to beat Portland.

The Kings cruised to an impressive blowout victory over the talented Trail Blazers with no help from Chris Webber, Mike Bibby and Doug Christie _ three starters from last season's Pacific Division championship team.

Webber was held out after he turned up at the shootaround with strained lower abdominal muscles. Christie finished his two-game suspension for a preseason fight with Rick Fox, while Webber sat in street clothes with Bibby and Mateen Cleaves _ both sidelined by foot injuries.

Rasheed Wallace scored 24 points for the Blazers, who beat the Lakers at home on Wednesday night but shot poorly and made too many turnovers at Arco Arena.