Much of the sell-out crowd of 20,674 fans at the MCI Center wasn't there for the home team's usual cast of characters, which includes the likes of Kwame Brown, Popeye Jones and Jahidi White. Certainly, a Wizards-Sonics game doesn't qualify as a marquee event.

However, a certain star "formerly" known as Air Jordan brings hope — and the spotlight — to his moribund franchise. But hounding defense caused Michael Jordan to flub several shots during his worst performance this season, leading to the Sonics' 99-84 victory yesterday. "It was probably one of the worst shooting nights I've had in my career," said Jordan, who missed 21 of 26 shots, the most embarrassing being an alley-oop he tried to lay in with two hands. "I had great shots."

Seattle was psyched against the 38-year-old, whose six championship rings include one against the Sonics in 1996. But more significant, the Sonics desperately needed a victory in the finale of a five-game road trip.

The Sonics (3-5) played yesterday with a scrappiness that belied the exhaustion of eight days on the road, making Jordan look every bit his age by missing his first 14 shots.

"We came in this afternoon with a focus to win this game," said Brent Barry who scored 20 points to end a shooting slump. "We talked about it yesterday: 'This one we have to get.' And I think from jump ball on, we were ready to go."

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Oklahoma City, Washington Wizards

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