Jordan scores 31 in loss to Bucks

WASHINGTON -- Michael Jordan scored 31 points and led the Washington Wizards back from a 20-point deficit, yet the Milwaukee Bucks held on for a 107-98 victory Wednesday night.

Sam Cassell scored 20 of his 27 points in the first half, and Ray Allen scored 19 of his 22 points in the second half as the Bucks sent the Wizards to their fifth straight loss.

Milwaukee has a three-game road winning streak at the start of a season for only the second time in franchise history.

Jordan played 41 minutes, made 12 of 24 shots -- his best shooting game of the year -- and scored 16 points during the Wizards' third-quarter rally. He wouldn't have had to work so hard down the stretch if it weren't for his disappearing act during the vital second quarter, when he went nearly six minutes without touching the ball in scoring position during a 21-4 Bucks run.

The Bucks led 63-43 early in the third quarter, but the Wizards had runs of 14-2 and 12-2 to tie the game at 84 early in the fourth.

Jordan has never lost more than six NBA games in a row. The Wizards will match that streak if they lose to Utah at home on Friday night.