Wizards' Winning Streak Ends at 4

ORLANDO, Jan. 18 -- The Washington Wizards were in position to push their longest winning streak of the season to five games entering the fourth quarter Wednesday night, but the Orlando Magic made all the right plays at all the key times to end the Wizards' streak and break an ugly one of its own.

Orlando, which had lost four straight games and seven of eight, took a four-point lead into the fourth quarter and then put away the Wizards for a 106-98 victory in front of 13,798 at TD Waterhouse Centre.

The Wizards (17-20) lost a chance to create distance between themselves and a Southeast Division rival because they made only 7 of 20 shots in the fourth quarter and couldn't match the energy and shot-making of the Magic, particularly second-year guard Jameer Nelson, who finished with 22 points and five assists in 33 minutes.

"They picked us apart," said Wizards forward Antawn Jamison, who matched a season high with 30 points and pulled down 12 rebounds while becoming the 34th active player to surpass the 10,000-point mark in his career. "We shot ourselves in the foot as far as not moving the ball the way we did in the first half and not getting good shots."

The Wizards led 51-44 at halftime and by nine in the third quarter. After they fell behind, they got within five on two free throws by Jamison with 4 minutes 18 seconds remaining, but never moved any closer.

Nelson, the former Saint Joseph's star, delivered the crucial points, grabbing a rebound off a missed three-point attempt by Hedo Turkoglu and laying it in to give Orlando a 94-85 lead with 2:40 remaining.

Later, after Gilbert Arenas made a three-pointer that drew the Wizards within eight with 2:04 remaining, Tony Battie made a tough running hook shot and Nelson buried a three-pointer from the wing.

"They hit some daggers on their last five possessions," said Arenas, who made 5 of 20 shots and finished with 21 points. "Turkoglu hit a one-footed floater and a three in the corner, and Jameer shot a ball that I tipped and it still went in. It was one of those nights."

Jamison, who opened the game by making five of his first six shots, crossed the 10,000-point threshold by making a three-pointer, his second in less than a minute, to give Washington a 64-58 lead with 5:18 remaining in the third. The advantage didn't last, as the Magic charged back behind Nelson, who scored 13 points in the quarter and fueled a 15-5 run.

With Brendan Haywood on the bench after drawing his fifth foul with four minutes remaining in the third, Orlando found success by focusing on offensive rebounding and by running its offense through Dwight Howard (nine points, 10 rebounds). The Magic took a 68-67 lead when Steve Francis drove to his left, drew the defense and flipped an alley-oop pass to Howard, who threw down a two-handed dunk. The Wizards did not make a field goal during the final 3:11 of the third quarter.

The Magic (14-22) is now within 2 1/2 games of the Wizards in the Southeast Division despite another injury to Grant Hill, who is expected to be out seven to 10 days because of an abdominal injury.

Francis, the former Maryland star who was suspended for two games after refusing to return to a game Jan. 11, did not start and entered the game for the first time with 3:53 remaining in the first quarter to a mixture of cheers and boos. Francis played a controlled game, obviously content to set up his teammates rather than look for his own shot, and he finished with 12 points, 7 assists and 8 rebounds while playing some solid defense on Arenas in the fourth quarter.

"I was happy my team was able to get a win," Francis said. "We desperately needed a win, and for me it was great. After a week of not playing, shooting by myself with some of my people who help me play basketball, it was good to get out on the court with my teammates and play ball."