WASHINGTON - It's bad enough that the Washington Wizards can't seem to play well enough long enough to put together a nice long winning streak or even a sustained period of good play.

But after last night's 87-82 loss to the Detroit Pistons, the Wizards couldn't even agree on why they weren't able to win, and what's worse was that all of the reasons were valid.

From head coach Doug Collins came the complaint that his team (12-16) stopped moving the ball, a complaint that stirs from time to time around the Washington locker room.

Indeed, the Wizards, who dropped their third straight, had as many turnovers (12) as assists for the game.

"We got stagnant," said Collins. "When we don't move the ball, we stand, and if we do that, we can't win. That's something that I battle with this team. When we stop moving the ball and stop executing, then that's what happens to us. I must have said it 30 times in the second half, 'Please move the ball.' "

For Michael Jordan, who had 17 points, but turned the ball over three times in the fourth period, including twice on Washington's last-gasp possession with 24 seconds to go, the problem was miscues, especially his own.

"If you look at the stats and how the game was played, we outplayed them in every area except turnovers," said Jordan. "I'm the biggest culprit. I had three turnovers, which is totally uncharacteristic of me.

"It was one of those games where you want to hide your head under the pillow. If you limit your turnovers and take care of the basketball, you give yourself a better chance to win."

From Jerry Stackhouse, the game's high scorer (24 points), who took just one shot in the fourth quarter, the blame lay with the team's reversal of offensive philosophy down the stretch, as the Wizards blew an 11-point third-quarter lead, committing as many turnovers (six) in the fourth as baskets.

"We say the same things," said Stackhouse. "We say we need to move the ball and do this and do that, but there are certain times in the game when you just have to take advantage of mismatches, like we were doing in the first half.

"Jon Barry can't guard me for long stretches and I don't even get an attempt to attack him. We attacked him in the first half because he can't guard. Why not attack him late? Why bail him out when he's on the defense and can run around and chase around?"

The turmoil in Washington's locker room overshadowed the triumphant return of Richard Hamilton, who was dealt to the Pistons (19-9) in the offseason for Stackhouse.

Hamilton, who spent the first two seasons of his career in Washington, shot just 6-for-16 from the field as, overall, the Pistons hit just under 40 percent of their shots. But Hamilton, one of the NBA's best free-throw shooters, was hot from the line, hitting 10 of 13 en route to a total of 22 points.

"I'm 24 years old and I have a lot of growing to do," said Hamilton. "Them trading me is kind of funny because when I first got here, I thought about all the great players they had here. I thought if I blow it up and play the way I know I am capable, watch them trade me.

"I tried not to think that way, but it ended up happening anyway. I'm excited to be here [Detroit]. I'm in a winning situation. I feel welcome here and I'm having a great time."

FGFTReb

DetroitMinM-AM-AO-TAPFPTS

Curry222-40-00-1134

Wallace464-93-45-132211

Robinson277-110-00-00416

Hamilton306-1610-131-71522

Billups291-63-41-3515

Wllmson275-125-63-32515

Barry182-62-20-1207

Okur221-62-22-7134

Atkins191-30-00-2113

Totals24029-7325-3112-37152487

Percentages: FG .397, FT .806. 3-point goals: 4-11, .364 (Robinson 2-3, Barry 1-1, Atkins 1-2, Okur 0-1, Hamilton 0-1, Billups 0-3). Team rebounds: 7. Team turnovers: 9 (8 PTS). Blocked shots: 1 (Robinson). Turnovers: 7 (Williamson 2, Billups 2, Robinson, Atkins, Hamilton). Steals: 5 (Barry 2, Robinson, Wallace, Williamson). Technical fouls: Robinson, 9:49 third; Hamilton, 1:48 fourth. FGFTReb

WashingtonMinM-AM-AO-TAPFPTS

Stackhouse376-1411-121-31324

Laettner383-102-40-6338

Haywood261-15-62-5037

Jordan417-173-41-41417

Hughes364-90-03-12329

Russell151-20-00-3123

KBrown234-82-44-90210

Lue161-42-20-0324

Oakley80-00-01-2030

Totals24027-6525-3212-44122482

Percentages: FG .415, FT .781. 3-point goals: 3-11, .273 (Russell 1-2, Hughes 1-3, Stackhouse 1-4, Lue 0-1, Jordan 0-1). Team rebounds: 7. Team turnovers: 14 (19 PTS). Blocked shots: 5 (K.Brown 2, Jordan 2, Haywood). Turnovers: 12 (Laettner 4, Jordan 4, Stackhouse 3, Hughes). Steals: 3 (Laettner, Hughes, Stackhouse). Technical fouls: Defensive Three Second, 9:23 third; Defensive Three Second, 6:49 third. Detroit25162026-87

Washington25241419-82

A-20,173 (20,674). T-2:30. Officials-Eddie F. Rush, Tom Washington, Ed Malloy.