Steve Blake was the hero du jour for the Wizards last night, scoring the game-winning jumper with 1.8 seconds left to defeat the Orlando Magic 79-78. Blake recorded 20 points, 7 assists, and 6 defensive rebounds, all game-highs. He also had two steals and a block, playing perhaps his best game as a professional. Last year's second-round pick by the Wizards also hit 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, including two in a row in the second quarter during which he scored nine points.

Jarvis Hayes had another solid game, chipping in 15 points, all in the third quarter. He took a total of 13 shots during the game but missed every one of them except the ones in the third quarter. In the magical third quarter, he went a perfect 6-for-6 from the field to go with three free throws.

Jared Jefferies set team-highs with three offensive boards and three steals. Maurice Evans was Washington's shot-blocking king, tallying four blocks in his 22 minutes.

Orlando played without their leading scorer Keith Bogans after he left the game with a sprained ankle. Dwight Howard had a better game in his second outing, leading the Magic with 15 points, 11 total rebounds (including five on the offensive end), one assist, and four blocked shots.

NEXT GAME
The Wizards take on the Cleveland Cavaliers today at 3:00 p.m. in the 2004 Pepsi Pro Leagueat the RDV Sportsplex in Orlando, Florida. The games are not open to the public. The complete Pepsi Pro League schedule is as follows:

*WASHINGTON 89 - Miami 59
*WASHINGTON 79 - Orlando 78
*Thursday, July 8th - Cleveland - 3:00 p.m. EDT
*Friday, July 9th - Boston - 3:00 p.m. EDT
*Saturday, July 10th - New Jersey - 2:00 p.m. EDT

The Wizards will also be participating in the 2004 Reebok Vegas Summer Leaguein Las Vegas, Nevada from July 13-18 at the Cox Pavilion. These majority of these games are expected to be broadcast on NBA TV. Their first game will be against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, July 13, at 5:00 p.m. EDT/2:00 p.m. PDT. In addition to the Wizards and the Suns, the other teams participating in the Reebok Vegas Summer League are the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, and Cleveland Cavaliers. The complete Reebok Vegas Summer League schedule is as follows:

*Tuesday, July 13th - Phoenix - 5:00 p.m. EDT
*Thursday, July 15th - Orlando - 5:00 p.m. EDT
*Friday, July 16th - Boston - 7:30 p.m. EDT
*Saturday, July 17th - Cleveland - 7:30 p.m. EDT
*Sunday, July 18th - Boston - 5:00 p.m. EDT

TEAM NOTES
Wizards Dance Team Auditions will be held July 10, 2004, from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. EDT and on July 14, 2004, from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. EDT at the MCI Center Practice Court. You must be 19 or over and able to attend both tryout dates.You must pre-register by 3:00 p.m. EDT July 9, 2004.No walk-ups. The application fee is $25. For further details and an application form, click here.

The roster for the Wizards Summer League is as follows:

NEWSLINES

Tim Povtak ofThe Orlando Sentinel writes: The star of the game, though, was Washington's Steve Blake, who hit the winning shot with 1.8 seconds remaining.Blake, preparing to begin his second season with the Wizards, finished with a game-high 20 points and seven rebounds.

Jim Barnes ofThe Dallas Mornins News writes: The Top 100 Camp brings 100 of the nation's best high school players together for a week of drills, scrimmages and classes to prepare them for college and, eventually, the NBA. Representatives of the Players Association, as well as players including Pippen and Washington Wizards guard Steve Blake, teach players about life in the NBA and pitfalls such as money management and ethics.Prospects also receive tutorials on college recruiting and what to expect from a university.

Israel Gutierrez ofThe Miami Herald writes: Among the players the Heat passed up to draft Beasley at No. 33 last season was Steve Blake, who is also playing at the Pro Summer League.Blake has already contributed meaningful minutes for the Washington Wizards, and Beasley is hoping to do the same for the Heat in the near future.