Posted on Sun, Mar. 09, 2008

BOBCATS 100, WIZARDS 97

Richardson leads Bobcats
to 5th straight win

Bobcats have new feel, new franchise record

RICK BONNELL

rbonnell@charlotteobserver.com

WASHINGTON --

Yes, the new vibes emanating from the Charlotte Bobcats do register on opponents.

"This is a different team from what we've seen all season," Washington Wizards forward Antawn Jamison said after the Bobcats held on for a 100-97 victory at Verizon Center.

"The chemistry is a lot different -- guys jump up and down on the bench, more emotion than normal. You just sense a lot more positive dialogue, a more positive atmosphere."

Saturday they won their fifth straight, setting a franchise record for consecutive victories. Put it this way: They did in a week what it had previously taken them six weeks to do (win five games.)

They jumped out by 19, and it looked so easy it was deceptive. They lost their shooting touch, going the final 7 1/2 minutes without a field goal. But they toughed it out with good defense and just enough foul shooting (16-of-21 during the fourth quarter) to squeak by.

Jamison tried to steal it at the end, jumping into Matt Carroll (23 points) as he threw up a shot from beyond mid-court. The Wizards were down three and had a whistle blown, Jamison would have attempted three free throws.

Carroll played it smart, jumping backward dramatically, to ensure no referee thought he had created the contact.

"I wasn't (concerned) because I didn't move into him," said Carroll. "Maybe 30 feet from the basket (a referee could have called a foul) but not 75 feet."

Though Jamison (30 points) tried his best to buy a call, even he admitted he never expected a whistle.

These are heady times for the Bobcats (24-39), who don't think it's too late to chase a playoff spot, despite losing 12 of 13 before this run. It's not out of the question in the East, where Washington (30-32), Philadelphia and New Jersey are all trying to hang on to the final three seeds.

The Bobcats followed the same script as the other four victories with Jason Richardson (34 points) and Carroll spreading the floor with 3-pointers (a combined 11-of-18 outside the arc) and Raymond Felton (14 points, 12 assists and six rebounds) in charge at the point.

"Raymond has just been fantastic," said coach Sam Vincent. "We put the ball in his hands and said, `Do it.' And he's done it."

He's not alone.

"It's a feeling we haven't had in a long time," Carroll said of this success. "Most of us, not since college."

Charlotte	MIN	FG-A	FT-A	OR-TR	A	F	Pt
Richardson	41:46	13-20	3-4	2-8	3	4	34
Okafor	34:57	2-7	5-8	2-9	1	2	9
Mohammed	24:26	3-6	0-0	2-5	0	3	6
Felton	42:05	5-13	4-5	0-6	12	3	14
Carroll	38:05	6-13	5-6	1-4	1	5	23
Dudley	26:41	0-3	0-2	2-6	2	5	0
Harrington	8:47	0-0	0-0	0-4	0	2	0
Boykins	16:29	2-7	6-8	0-0	2	0	10
Davidson	6:44	2-3	0-0	1-2	0	1	4
Totals	240:00	33-72	23-33	10-44	21	25	100

Percentages: FG .458, FT .697. Three-Point Goals: 11-23, .478 (Carroll 6-9, Richardson 5-9, Boykins 0-1, Felton 0-4). Team Rebounds: 9. Team Turnovers: 15 (11 PTS). Blocked Shots: 5 (Mohammed 2, Felton, Okafor, Richardson). Turnovers: 14 (Carroll 3, Okafor 3, Richardson 3, Felton 2, Dudley, Harrington, Mohammed). Steals: 7 (Richardson 4, Carroll, Dudley, Felton).

Washington	MIN	FG-A	FT-A	OR-TR	A	F	Pt
Jamison	36:38	9-18	8-12	3-10	2	3	30
Songaila	23:08	2-5	0-0	1-7	4	2	4
Haywood	27:26	3-6	1-2	3-5	1	2	7
Daniels	28:42	5-8	4-4	0-1	1	2	14
Stevenson	33:08	3-11	3-4	0-3	6	2	11
McGuire	15:19	2-2	1-2	1-4	0	3	5
Young	23:45	4-9	1-2	1-3	4	6	11
Mason	28:37	4-11	4-4	0-2	3	4	15
Blatche	17:00	0-2	0-0	0-0	2	2	0
Pecherov	6:17	0-3	0-0	0-3	0	1	0
Totals	240:00	32-75	22-30	9-38	23	27	97

Percentages: FG .427, FT .733. Three-Point Goals: 11-32, .344 (Jamison 4-8, Mason 3-7, Young 2-5, Stevenson 2-10, Pecherov 0-2). Team Rebounds: 9. Team Turnovers: 12 (10 PTS). Blocked Shots: 8 (Jamison 3, McGuire 3, Haywood, Mason). Turnovers: 12 (Young 3, Mason 2, Songaila 2, Blatche, Daniels, Jamison, McGuire, Stevenson). Steals: 8 (Songaila 3, Daniels, Haywood, Jamison, McGuire, Young).

Charlotte	35	19	26	20	--	100
Washington	21	26	23	27	--	97

Att.--20,173 (20,173). T--2:23.

Officials--Jason Phillips, Tom Washington, Mark Ayotte.