TORONTO - As Michael Jordan's career descends from the heavens from god-like status to that of mere mortal, he demonstrates every so often that maybe it really was the little things all along that made him so great.
Jordan tied a career low with two points in a season-high 40 minutes yesterday, but his eight rebounds and nine assists were essential in the Washington Wizards' 95-82 win over the Toronto Raptors.
All day, Jordan, who shot 1-for-9 from the field, did the little things, whether it was setting up teammates or making the extra pass or getting a weak-side block. In the process, he got the Wizards (10-13) out of a two-game losing streak with a victory over a Toronto team (7-16) that was playing without center Antonio Davis and forward Vince Carter, both out with knee injuries.
"My sole purpose was just moving the ball, getting the ball to the right people and playing solid defense, and you can still have an impact on this game," Jordan said.
"That's the lessons I want these kids to understand. You have to go out and do the necessary things to make this team a winner. The box score is never going to say what the game says, and that's a win.
"How many points did I have? I had 20 points. I had nine assists and two points. To me, that's the way you win ballgames."
Whether you agree with Jordan's basketball math or not, the fact is his play helped energize the team's recently dormant big men, namely Kwame Brown, who had 14 points off the bench, Christian Laettner, who had eight points, seven assists and seven rebounds, and center Brendan Haywood, who scored 10 points.
Jerry Stackhouse led all scorers with 28, while Toronto's Lindsey Hunter had 22 off the bench.
"Anybody who wants to look at [Jordan] and gauge him on whether he scores or not, I think they're looking at the wrong areas," Washington coach Doug Collins said. "This guy is a basketball genius. I appreciate what he did. He was the difference in the game to us."
One play in particular typified Jordan's genius. With 3:30 to go, he deliberately turned his back to Toronto's Voshon Lenard on an inbounds play near the Raptors' basket. When Lenard attempted to bounce the ball off Jordan's back, the wily veteran turned and intercepted the pass, shaking his head at Lenard.
On the ensuing offensive play, Jordan, who scored two in his last game of last season against the Los Angeles Lakers in a career-low 12 minutes, fed Laettner on a backdoor cut for the basket that gave Washington a nine-point lead and essentially ended the contest.
"It was a sucker play," Jordan said with a grin. "I knew exactly what he was going to do."
The Wizards made an adjustment to their offensive sets, which worked well for the post players. Instead of having a guard stationed in the corner, thus leaving his defensive man in position to double-team the big men, the guard kept cycling through.
Brown, who has been benched in recent weeks, was the biggest beneficiary, consistently beating his man in single coverage.
Next for Wizards
Opponent: Atlanta Hawks
Site: Philips Arena, Atlanta
When: Tomorrow, 7:30 p.m.
TV/Radio: Comcast SportsNet/WTEM (980 AM)