He might not have been able to will the Wizards to victory, but no one can say that Jordan still cannot take over center stage in the biggest stage of them all.. even if he is 40.

Jordan overcame a bit of everything and then something on his way to 39 points for the Wizards, but it wasn't enough as the Knicks prevailed by one solitary point in what many expect to by Jordan's last hurrah at the Garden.  In a rare display of emotion the New York crowd even embraced Jordan, cheering when Knick Shandon Anderson missed a free throw in the dying seconds to keep alive a little Jordan magic.

Jordan did it all, even diving onto the New York floor and banging his head, the knock requiring a painkilling shot during a late-fourth-quarter timeout so he could continue.

"It's very disappointing when a 40-year-old man has more desire than a 25-, 26-year-old," Jordan said. "Diving for loose balls, busting his chin, doing everything he can to get this team into the playoffs. And it's not reciprocated from other players on this team."

"I can look at this locker room and see a few guys willing to do those things," Jordan added. "But I could look at it and see a lot more who won't do that. Until guys let go of that macho and cool attitude, and the necessary things it takes to play the game of basketball, it's going to be tough for Washington to make anything."

"Unfortunately I can't play here every night," Jordan concluded. "The respect the fans and the game has had in New York, it's a showcase of basketball. A lot of times people crack and don't respond well. It's always been a great place for me to focus on the basketball court and do my job. It wasn't any different today."