Washington
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Washington's backcourt depth paid a huge dividend yesterday as bench guard Juan Dixon, dubbed "Superman" after the game by head coach Eddie Jordan, came in, hit 6 of 10 shots, including 3 of 4 from downtown, scored 15 points in 14 minutes, rescued Lois Lane, flew around the earth to turn time back to December 31, 2004, altered the course of history by making the breakaway layup he had flubbed that afternoon against the Celtics to restore his shaken confidence, built himself a little ice fortress in the north pole (nothing fancy, just a vacation home), and returned in time to become a mild-mannered bench player before anyone could notice.
But someone did notice. Our own Eric Pincus is thinking Dixon is exactly the kind of point guard that someone like the Lakers could really covet.
Dixon has had some of his best games against these Hawks. He torched them for 17 points in 22 minutes on December 3rd, almost exactly a month ago. He's a very explosive scorer. He's in the top 20 in the league in both fields goals and three-point field goals, on a per-48-minutes basis.
"Who's more powerful than Superman?" Jordan wondered. "Is Spider-Man better? But no. He's had some struggles in previous games, but he's always kept his head up. He is a professional. He stayed in it, and made some big plays and big shots for us."
NEXT GAME
The Wizards (16-13, second in the Southeast) take on head coach Eddie Jordan's former team, the recently retooled New Jersey Nets (11-18, fourth in the Southeast) on Tuesday, January 4th, 2005. The game starts at 7:00pm Eastern. It is the second of a five game home stand by the Wizards to start the New Year. The game will be broadcast on CSN and NBA League Pass.
TEAM NOTES
All fans attending the Wizards vs. Minnesota Timberwolves game on January 8th are encouraged to donate a brand new or gently used coatto the Wizards Coat Drive. Fans who donate will receive a Wizards complimentary coupon certificate to a future Wizards home game.
INJURY UPDATE
Laron Profit(foot),Peter John Ramos(knee), andEtan Thomas (abdominal) are all on the injured list.Kwame Brown(ankle) is questionable for Tuesday's game, as isSamaki Walker(flu).
The Associated Press writes inCapital News 9: Washington broke a two-game skid by handing Atlanta a fourth straight loss.The Wizards beat the Hawks 104-to-101. Reserve guard Juan Dixon made sure the Wizards came out on top by scoring all 15 of his points in the fourth quarter. Larry Hughes led Washington with 26 points while Antawn Jamison added 19 and Gilbert Arenas 17. Antoine Walker, who finished with 18 points, hit a three-pointer to pull the Hawks within one point with three seconds left, but Jamison closed out the win with a pair of free throws. Tony Delk led the Hawks with 19 points.
Michael Lee ofThe Washington Postwrites: Dixon's performance was imperative on an afternoon when starting point guard Gilbert Arenas (17 points) was still battling the flu and had exerted most of his energy in the first half."Juan was Superman for us today," Coach Eddie Jordan said about Dixon, who was inserted after Arenas picked up his fourth foul in the third quarter. "We really needed him on a night where, if it didn't turn out to be a 'W' for the Wizards, it could be very devastating for us."
John N. Mitchell ofThe Washington Timeswrites: While everyone was celebrating the arrival of 2005, Juan Dixon still was trying to forget about his last shot of 2004 — a missed breakaway layup late in the first half of the Washington Wizards' New Year's Eve loss at Boston."I thought about it in the second half of the Boston game, and it was still on my mind in the first half [yesterday] because I didn't play," Dixon said. "But it happens. You hope it doesn't happen again."