Taylor's Energy Is Bright Spot in Defeat

LOS ANGELES, March 25 -- The Washington Wizards had at least one fan inside Staples Center on Saturday afternoon and that frustrated gentleman, who likely spent prime money on first-row seats just behind the press table, appreciated the effort displayed by rookie guard Donell Taylor in an otherwise dreadful second half.

When Taylor scored on three straight possessions shortly after entering the game in the third quarter, the fan offered some support for the rookie out of Alabama-Birmingham.

"That kid needs to play more," he yelled.

Taylor finished with six points on 3-of-8 shooting with four assists in 16 minutes and provided a dose of energy along with fellow reserves Michael Ruffin, Antonio Daniels, Calvin Booth and Awvee Storey in the second half.

"I was just trying to come in with some energy and see if we could get us back in the game," said Taylor, who did not play in the first half. "It was one of those games where they kind of jumped on us and we were struggling the whole way."

Daniels finished with 13 points and three assists while Ruffin pulled down 10 rebounds and scored seven points. Those performances prompted Coach Eddie Jordan to stick with his reserves at the start of the fourth quarter.

"It was one of those nights when you feel your main guys aren't playing well and if you are going to have any type of energy or enthusiasm, it has to come from the guys off the bench and not just one or two of them," Jordan said. "They got some things going. I liked what I saw out of Calvin, Michael and Donell."