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CHARLOTTE, N. Alfonso Boone Jersey Retro .C. — Al Jefferson laughed when told he finished three stitches shy of a triple-double. „I have to call my agent because Im done with my modeling career,“ Jefferson said. Jefferson had seven stitches in the first half to repair a gash above his right eye, but returned to finish with 19 points and 11 rebounds, helping the Bobcats overcome an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit and defeat Washington 100-94 Monday night. The win prevented the Wizards from clinching their first playoff berth since 2008. Jeffersons put back off an offensive rebound with 3:30 left in the game helped the Bobcats take the lead for good at 93-92. Kemba Walker had a big second half, finishing with 21 points and 10 assists, and rookie Cody Zeller scored a career-high 15 points on 4-of-4 shooting and added eight rebounds for Charlotte. Walker scored nine points in the final quarter and the Bobcats erased a 16-point halftime deficit and pulled within two games of the Washington in the race for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs Both teams have eight games left and will meet again on April 9. „We made big shots and played well defensively in the second half and really came together as a team,“ Walker said. „It shows our resiliency. That was a big win for us.“ Bradley Beal had 20 points for the Wizards, who missed 11 of their last 14 shots from the field. „It (stinks) man,“ Washingtons Al Harrington said of not clinching a playoff spot. „Because obviously we played a great first half. We really thought tonight was our night, but to have them come out and play the way that they played and beat us — thats tough.“ Washington still would have clinched a playoff spot if the Utah Jazz had defeated New York later Monday, but the Knicks won 92-83. The Wizards (38-36) came in looking to snap the third-longest playoff drought in the NBA — and for a while it looked like they would. The Wizards shot 59 per cent in the first half, at one point hitting 10 straight shots from the field and scoring on 14 of 15 possessions to close the first half on a 30-7 run. The Bobcats could do little right in what Jefferson called an „embarrassing“ first half. But he was confident they would battle back. Jefferson walked to the scorers table at the start of the third quarter and told whoever was in earshot, „Hey, watch this comeback.“ „Everyone looked at me like I was crazy,“ Jefferson said. „At the end of the game though people were pointing at me saying, You said it. You said it.“ Charlottes defence was the big difference. Coach Steve Clifford also went to a pick-and-roll with Walker and Jefferson. „The Wizards did a good job of taking away the post,“ Clifford said. The momentum turned four minutes into the fourth quarter when Walker came up with the loose ball off a Washington turnover and fed Chris Douglas-Roberts for a fast-break layup in traffic with 7:38 left in the game. Douglas-Roberts had to adjust in midair to get his body from one side of the rim to the other to avoid defenders and get the shot to drop. Douglas-Roberts made a 3-point play and then knocked down a long-distance 3 to cut the lead to one before Jeffersons put back gave the Bobcats the lead for good. Jefferson hit a 16-footer to push the lead to three. Walker followed with a backbreaker when he scored on a driving layup to make it 97-92 after a Bobcats possession that took more than a minute off the clock. Charlotte twice came up with key offensive rebounds, allowing Walker to bring the ball back out and reset the offence and milk time off the clock. „When you give a team two to three looks one time down the floor, theyre going to make one,“ said Wizards forward Drew Gooden. „I would say we lost the game giving them second and third possessions offensively.“ Jefferson left the game briefly at the end of the first quarter to head to the locker room to get the stitches above his right eye after taking an inadvertent elbow from Trevor Booker. „I had to get a shot to numb it and I hate needles,“ Jefferson said. NOTES: Gary Neal returned to action for the Bobcats after missing two games with an ankle injury. He had nine points … The Bobcats have won four of six against Washington, but have split their two games this season. … The Bobcats have won 11 of their last 13 at home. Bruce Thornton Jersey Retro . Appearing on TSN 690 Monday afternoon, Mike Babcock said he had conversations with both P.K. Subban and Carey Price about those on-ice traits during Hockey Canadas summer orientation camp. Mike Babcock: McGill experience, P. Bill Kirchiro Jersey Retro . He was with the New York Jets in 2011 when the NFL locked out their players after they failed to agree on a new contract. Willy went undrafted but was given a look by four NFL teams before heading north.TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper believes Lightning star Steven Stamkos can return from a broken right shin in time for next months Olympics. Stamkos is on Canadas Olympic team and has been out since he was injured Nov. 11 at Boston and needed surgery. Cooper said Thursday that if Stamkos can play for Tampa Bay before the Olympics „naturally hes going to be ready.&quuot; The coach adds that hes certain Stamkos would not hold out to play in the Olympics, saying „he wont do that. Randy Coffield Jersey Retro. “ Stamkos had 14 goals and 23 points in 17 games before the injury. Also, Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop has been placed on the injured list because of sprained right wrist. He is 22-5-3 with an 1.86 goals-against average this season. ‚ ‚ ‚