Washington
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
The Wizards ended their winning streak at one by falling 104-93to the Sacramento Kings last night. It was a very balanced game, with each team having four scorers in double-figures and a fifth with nine points. The Kings merely hit four more field goals and three more free throws. The Wizards fell to 2-2 on their Western Conference road trip with their final game scheduled for this Sunday against the Timberwolves.
To be fair, Washington was playing on the second of a back-to-back away game, and also playing for the third time in four games, so they were probably a little tired. A win over the Wolves on Boxing Day would go a long way to restoring their swagger.
It has now been eight years and nearly a week since the last time the Wizards have beaten the Kings in Sacramento.
On the good news front, long-suffering Steve Blake may finally find his number called this weekend as he might be strong enough to come off of the injured list. Etan Thomas, meanwhile, on whom the Wizards matched a Milwaukee offer sheet during the summer, is coming along, but slowly. "Etan we're pushing a little bit more," head coach Eddie Jordan toldThe Washington Times. "He hasn't done any live contact yet. He's doing work in shoot-around and practice."
NEXT GAME
The Wizards (14-10, second in the Southeast) have the next four days off before they finish their five-game, nine-day road trip with a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves (15-9, second in the Northwest) on Sunday, December 26th. The game starts at 8:00pm Eastern and will be broadcast on NC8 and NBA League Pass.
TEAM NOTES
Thomas, Ramos Contribute to Carribean Relief Fund: Wizards duo join eight other NBA players who have donated more than $100,000 to UNICEF for hurricane relief efforts.
INJURY UPDATE
Steve Blake(foot),Peter John Ramos(knee), andEtan Thomas (abdominal) are all on the injured list. Blake may be activated for this weekend.
John N. Mitchell ofThe Washington Postwrites: Sacramento is one of the hardest places for visiting teams to play — the Kings are 77-7 at home against Eastern Conference teams since 1999 — and the Wizards are no exception.The last time Washington won here was Dec. 16, 1996, when Wizards coach Eddie Jordan was an assistant coach for the Kings, the franchise was called the Bullets and Chris Webber, the Kings' best player, called Washington his basketball home.
Michael Lee ofThe Washington Postwrites: Jordan is trying to gradually bring along Kwame Brown, but he hasn't found a reason to sit Michael Ruffin.Ruffin came off the bench and grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds in 25 minutes during the Wizards' 103-101 win against the Warriors on Monday. Ruffin also matched the NBA season high with 11 offensive rebounds, including three in the fourth quarter.
John N. Mitchell ofThe Washington Postwrites: It looks like the long wait on injured reserve is about to end for point guard Steve Blake.Blake, who has been on the injured list since Dec. 8 with a strained left arch, could be activated in time for the team's games against Minnesota and Charlotte on Sunday and Monday. "Maybe he'll be ready for the back-to-back after Christmas," Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said.