The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The fans came to see Scottie vs. MJ for the first time. Afterward, Michael Jordan felt they all deserved refunds. Scottie Pippen's Portland Trail Blazers dominated Jordan's Washington Wizards 98-79 Tuesday night, taking a double-digit lead in the first quarter and never letting up.

"It was a sad, sad game we played," said Jordan, who scored 14 points. "The most unfortunate thing is that we can't take our checks and give them to our fans. It was unfortunate that they had to pay to see it."

The one-sided game took away some of the intrigue of having Jordan and Pippen in opposing uniforms. It didn't happen last season because Jordan was hurt both times the teams played.

Pippen was clearly ready, and he had perhaps his best game of the season. He had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists - just below his season highs in all three categories - and he shared the team scoring lead for only the second time this season despite playing just 27 minutes.

"I feel I was a little bit more ready for this game," Pippen said. "I knew there was a lot of attention being brought to it, and I wanted to answer."

Pippen now has something few people can claim - bragging rights over Jordan.

"His horses were ready, and my mules were sick," Jordan said. "I have to take some razzing for the time being."

The Trail Blazers outhustled and outworked the Wizards, outscoring them 50-28 in the paint and 20-8 on fastbreaks. All five Portland starters were in double figures before the end of the third quarter.

"Terrible, wasn't it?" Wizards forward Bryon Russell said. "Everything from that game looked like a team that ain't going to make the playoffs, a team that don't care. I know we're better than that. I know we are.

"It looked like nobody wanted to be out there. You can't win like that. It hurts when nobody wants to be out there."

The 19-point loss was the biggest by the Wizards this season. Coach Doug Collins said he saw it coming after a terrible practice Monday.

"It's hard to figure out. I wish I could diagnose it," Collins said. "It's one thing to get beaten, but we didn't compete tonight. It's really the first time I can say all year that we didn't compete."

Portland has won three straight overall and eight straight against the Wizards. They are 6-0 at the MCI Center since the arena opened in 1997.

Larry Hughes had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Wizards. Derek Anderson had 14 points for the Trail Blazers.

Pippen and Jordan were a commanding twosome for 10 years, winning six titles during the Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 1990s. The former teammates were rarely one-on-one against each other Tuesday, but they bantered back and forth during the game and playfully tussled on the floor for a loose ball in the third quarter. The game was so one-sided that neither played in the fourth quarter.

"They had a little fun with it when he was guarding him and vice-versa," Portland coach Maurice Cheeks said. "Overall, I thought Scottie played an extra game."

Notes: Collins and general manager Wes Unseld talked at length in private immediately after the game - an unusual occurrence - but Collins said it wasn't a sign that any moves were imminent. "We were just sitting in there talking," said Collins, who added jokingly: "I don't think he's going to fire me yet." ... The Wizards last beat Portland on March 24, 1998. Their last win at home was at the former Capital Centre on March 28, 1997. ... Hughes, the starting point guard, has led the Wizards in rebounding for five consecutive games. ... Washington was 0-for-12 from 3-point range.