Ed Tapscott's debut with the Wizards was successful. Coaching his first game of any sort since a spot on the bench in his daughter's youth league in 1993 Tapscott juggled a few things last night and guided the Wizards to a 124-100 home blowout, breaking a five-game losing streak and avoiding the worst 12-game start in franchise history.
Caron Butler scored a season-high 35 points, Andray Blatche had season highs with 25 points and 12 rebounds, and Antawn Jamison added 25 points and 11 rebounds as the Wizards improved to 2-10. Their 124 points topped any number achieved in the first 11 games under Eddie Jordan, who was fired Monday and replaced by Tapscott, who had been the team's director of player development.
Other games
* Cavaliers 119, Knicks 101: LeBron James scored 26 points before and the visiting Cavaliers beat the Knicks.
* Mavericks 108, Pacers 106: Jason Terry scored 29 points and combined with Jason Kidd to key a fourth-quarter run that carried the Mavericks past the visiting Pacers.
* Suns 99, Thunder 98: Matt Barnes hit a 3-pointer from the left wing with 25.7 seconds left to complete the Suns' fourth-quarter rally and spoil Scott Brooks' home debut as the Thunder's head coach.
* Lakers 120, Nets 93: Pau Gasol had 26 points and eight rebounds for the Lakers who ripped the visiting Nets. Devin Harris led New Jersey with 21 points.
