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The North Carolina Tar Heels was down by seven points late in the game against the Clemson Tigers in the semifinals of the ACC tournament, then came back and won yesterday. Wizards’ all-star F Antawn Jamison (North Carolina alumnus) scored seven points with 9.7 seconds left in the game to force overtime against the Los Angeles Clippers last night-which led to a win. Jamison led all scorers with 36 points off 10 for 22 shooting, 11 rebounds and 7 assists to sweep the Clippers this season, 119-109.
Both teams were nearly identical in their play and numbers. C Brendran Haywood did not play because of a strain in his left patella tendon, but C Darius Songaila put up Haywood-like numbers, 14 points off 7 for 15 shooting and 8 rebounds.
Most the game, Clippers’ F Corey Maggette was matching Antawn Jamison shot for shot. Maggette led the Clippers with 34 points off 6 for 15 shooting and 5 rebounds. At times, it seemed the Clippers was going to run away with this game, but Maggette got into early foul trouble and he was forced to sit. Not only was Maggette in foul trouble, the Clippers’ F Tim Thomas and G Cuttino Mobley was in foul trouble. The Wizards was able to capitalize and stay alive because of that reason.
The Wizards’ starters finished with double digits, again, but it wasn’t pretty. After the slow start and mid-way through the fourth quarter, all-star F Caron Butler finished with 16 points off 3 for 14 shooting, but grabbed 12 boards. With the help of guards, Roger Mason, Jr and Nick Young’s 10 points each kept the Wizards within six points in the 2nd half.
The play that gave the Wizards life was the dunk from G Antonio Daniels with 2:46 left in the game. “ Coach said( Eddie Jordan) we are a better team when I’m aggressive attacking the basket”, said Daniels. Daniels, who is practically playing with one hand nursing a sore left wrist, finished with 14 points off 4 for 6 shooting and 6 assists. Daniels became the aggressor from that point on, but G DeShawn Stevenson made a key steal down the stretch finishing with 11 points.
Antawn Jamison was cold throughout the 4th quarter, until he hit his first free throw with 9.7 seconds left in the game. Then Jamison nailed a three which put the Wizards within one with 4.9 seconds left, but all would had been for nothing if he would had missed a free throw after he was fouled trying to shoot a three pointer by Mobley. Jamison was money hitting three free throws with 2.2 seconds in the game forcing overtime after the Clippers’ Tim Thomas shot attempt hit inside the rim as time expired.
In overtime, the Wizards came out the gate and never looked back. Wins like this brings a team together. The Wizards had an off night from the free throw line, but one of their leaders, Jamison came through. “I stayed focus, calm down, took my time. Fun, I stayed yesterday after practice to work on my free throws because I was disappointed the previous game,” said Jamison. “ That’s the thing about this team, we have a no quit mentality. Most teams probably would have folded…there at the last minute or so, but we stayed with it”.
Written by 2B
2bdcmetrosports.com
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