Michael Jordan collected 18 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists but made just 9-of-24 shots and scored only four points in the final period, when the Clippers cut a 12-point deficit to 79-77 on a 3-pointer by Eric Piatkowski with 4:55 remaining.
"I think if there is an epitome of our team, we are that," Wizards coach Doug Collins said. "We are a sum of our components, and the thing I am happy about is when we get in some rough stretches we can hang around and find ways to win."
"We found a way to win the game," Jordan said. "It wasn't a pretty win. We had some key guys step up to give us some minutes. I come out, do my job and focus on what's enjoyable for me, which is playing the game of basketball. Things will work out in the long run."
 Rookie Brendan Haywood chipped in nine points and seven rebounds to help the Wiz win their fourth straight. Robert C. Mora/NBAE/Getty Images |
"There is a part of me that always says give Michael the ball late in the fourth quarter," Jones said. "Tonight I just stepped up and took the shot with confidence and that is what I am going to have to do to make my defender stay on me."
Davis, who has thrived since the injury to scoring guard Richard Hamilton, scored 14 points in the third period, when the Wizards turned a two-point halftime deficit into a 70-58 lead.
"We need to help Michael," Davis said. "He cannot be expected to score 50 a night, and if we become aggressive, we help him out."
"He's been hot," Jordan said. "He's a scorer and we try to run plays for him. I think we kind of caught them off guard because the focus was on me. He really carried us in the third quarter and got us right where we needed to be."
Jeff McInnis scored a season-high 27 points for the Clippers, who fell to 0-2 on their six-game eastern swing and 2-9 on the road this season. Los Angeles lost forward Lamar Odom to the flu in the second quarter and center Michael Olowokandi to a bruised forearm in the third.
"We've got to find a way to play with the same energy and play with the same confidence that we do at home," Clippers coach Alvin Gentry said. "That's what playoff teams do."
The Wizards beat the Clippers at home for the first time since January 17, 1998.
Two free throws by McInnis capped a 12-3 burst that pulled the Clippers within 73-70 with 8:49 remaining. Jones answered with a hook to stop the surge and jumpers by Davis and Jordan gave Washington a 79-72 lead with 5:18 to go.
Washington trailed 43-41 at halftime, but Davis -- who did not score in the first half -- made 6-of-10 shots in the third period.
"I put in just a wrinkle where it was a little different action and the Clippers were not ready for it," Davis said. "I was able to get some space and fortuantely I was able to knock down some shots."
McInnis scored eight points in the first quarter as Los Angeles opened a 25-17 lead. But Odom sat down with 2:06 remaining in the second quarter and Olowokandi departed with 1:32 left in the third period.
"We missed Lamar Odom in the second half," McInnis said. "We had to pick it up, but we came up a little bit short."
The Wizards shot 48 percent (38-of-79) and held a 41-36 edge on the boards.
Elton Brand had 17 points and 11 rebounds and Corey Maggette scored 10 points for the Clippers, who shot 44 percent (37-of-84).
The Wizards won their 18th game of the season. Last year, they only won 19 games all year. They will have a chance to win game number 19 Friday night at Milwaukee, and then host Minnesota Saturday night.