Jordan falls short on busy NBA opening night

Michael Jordan's hotly anticipated return had a bittersweet ending as he missed a potential tying 3-pointer in the final seconds as the Knicks escaped with a 93-91 win over Washington on a busy opening night of the NBA season.

After a 40-month absence from the game, the 38-year-old Jordan nearly pulled off some new magic for the Wizards as he lined up his long-range jumper from the right wing with 18 seconds remaining.

But like many of his shots on the Madison Square Garden floor, it came up short.

"I guess the difference is I'm a little bit older," Jordan said. "The game's a little different, my team mates are a little different and the outcome was a little bit different."

The last time Jordan suited up for a serious NBA game, he hit a fall-away jumper in the last seconds to clinch his sixth NBA championship with the Chicago Bulls with a victory over the Utah Jazz.

Much was different about Jordan, starting with the fact that he played primarily at point guard. He handed out six assists and could have had a bunch more had his team mates been able to finish off the plays.

With new NBA rules allowing zone defenses, the Knicks repeatedly double-teamed him, chasing the ball out of his hands. The Wizards, who were a woeful 19-63 last season, could not hit many of the open shots.

"We doubled Michael a lot," said Knicks swingman Latrell Sprewell, who led the Knicks with 28 points. "The guys on the team just didn't knock down the shots for him."

In 37 minutes, Jordan scored 19 points, but made just 7-of-21 shots.

SHAQ ATTACK

In Los Angeles, Shaquille O'Neal had 29 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks and Kobe Bryant also scored 29 points as the Los Angeles Lakers began their quest for a third straight title with a 98-87 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Lakers have defeated Portland in the playoffs twice en route to back-to-back championships. They have been led by the dynamic duo of O'Neal and Bryant, who opened the season in strong fashion and led Los Angeles to another convincing win over the Blazers.

O'Neal made just 10-of-23 shots from the floor and 9-of-16 free throws but controlled the glass and the paint for Los Angeles, which never trailed. Bryant shot 11-of-24 and pulled down seven rebounds.

The Lakers led by as many as 17 points in the first half and had a 68-54 lead in the third quarter before Portland went on a 12-2 run to make it 68-66 with 1:33 left.

Robert Horry followed with a 3-pointer and Bryant scored eight straight points to close the period, including a 3-pointer with three seconds left that gave Los Angeles an 11-point cushion heading into the final quarter.

Portland never got the deficit into single digits over the final 12 minutes.

In Sacremento, California, Vlade Divac poured in 27 points and Peja Stojakovic added 26 as the Kings opened the season with a 101-95 victory over the stubborn Seattle SuperSonics.

Sacramento, which posted a franchise-record 55 victories last season, is counting on increased production from the rest of its starters and got it Tuesday.

Mike Bibby also had a successful debut for Sacramento after being acquired in the offseason trade that sent flashy point guard Jason Williams to Memphis. Bibby collected 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists while efficiently involving his team mates.

MAGIC ROMP

In Orlando, the double threat of Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill proved too much for Vince Carter and the Toronto Raptors as the Magic romped to a 114-85 victory in a game between likely Eastern Conference title contenders.

McGrady scored 23 points and Hill added 22, while Carter made just 2-of-14 shots for 11 points. He missed most of the second half after bruising his left knee last in the first half after colliding with Horace Grant.

At Minnesota, the Timberwolves ran off 15 straight points early in the second quarter to overcome a 25-17 deficit and roll to a 83-74 victory over defending Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers.

Chauncey Billings scored 11 points and dished out two assists during the critical spurt and finished with a game-high 22 points against Sixers, who have been plagued by injury.

In San Antonio, Antonio Daniels scored 17 points in the third quarter to help the San Antonio Spurs open their 25th season with a 109-98 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Charles Smith led six players in double figures with 19 points and Tim Duncan contributed 15 while grabbing 13 rebounds for the Spurs, who made 11-of-24 3-pointers.

Elton Brand scored 27 points for the Clippers.

At Utah, the Milwaukee Bucks rallied from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit and dominated the overtime period for a 119-112 victory over the Jazz.

Ray Allen scored 32 points, Glenn Robinson added 28 and Sam Cassell had 25 for the Bucks, who also expect to contend in the East.

The Jazz shot 53 percent (43-of-81) overall, but scored just 28 points after the third quarter. John Starks led Utah with 20 points. John Stockton scored 18 and Karl Malone 15.

SUNS DOWNED

In Phoenix, Nick Van Exel scored 27 points to lead the Denver Nuggest to a 99-96 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

Van Exel was 9-of-22 from the floor and dished out nine assists as Denver opened a 57-36 halftime lead and then held on for the victory.

Tony Delk scored 21 points for the Suns.

In Houston, Steve Francis scored seven of his 23 points in overtime as the Rockets posted an 89-84 season-opening victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

After making just 4-of-17 shots in regulation, Francis completed a three-point play that put Houston ahead 79-76 just 28 seconds into the extra session and the Rockets roared on.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 28 points and 18 rebounds in his first game for Atlanta.

PISTONS WHIPPED

In Dallas, Michael Finley scored 34 points and Dirk Nowitzki exploded for 20 in the second half as the Mavericks won their opener at the new American Airlines Center 94-87 over the Detroit Pistons.

Finley made 14-of-28 shots from the floor and scored 12 points in the second quarter to fuel the Mavericks.

A 14-4 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters settled the decision for Dallas.

Jerry Stackhouse poured in 27 points for Detroit and added six assists and eight rebounds.

In Cleveland, Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker spoiled John Lucas's coaching debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers as the Boston Celtics crushed the Cavs 108-89.

Pierce scored 29 points and Walker added 23 for Boston.

"That was an ugly game on our part," Lucas said.

Perimeter shooters Trajan Langdon and Wesley Person led the Cavaliers with 13 points apiece.

At New Jersey, rookie Richard Jefferson helped the Nets fight back from an 11-point deficit after three periods to beat the Indian Pacers 103-97.

Jefferson scored five of his 12 points during a key, 11-1 run in the fourth quarter.