Washington
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
The Wizards defeated the Cavaliers in Cleveland 106-97to accomplish a variety of records. Among them:
1) Best start to the season since the 1978-1979 season
2) More road victories already than all of last season
3) As many total wins as all of last season
4) Three victories in a row
5) Nine wins in the past eleven games
Gilbert Arenas played every single minute and scored 30 points. LeBron James played every single minute and scored 31 points. It's not every day you can cancel out the impact of a guy like LeBron but Gilbert did it.
The Wizards gave up 21 fast break points to the Cavaliers while themselves scoring just one, and gave up 52 points in the paint while scoring just 30 there themselves. They trailed at one point by 17 points. So how did they win?
They shot better than 26 percent, that's how. The Wizards hit just 9 of their 35 first half field goal attempts. They shot 57 percent in the second half, hitting 21 of their 37 attempts. They also got to the line a lot more than Cleveland did. The Cavs hit 15 of their 23 free throws; the Wizards made 39 of their 49 attempts.
We'll take it! We're back, baby! The mourning for the temporarily loss of Larry Hughes is over, and it's time to keep plowing ahead to the playoffs.
NEXT GAME
The Wizards (25-15, second in the Southeast) entertain the Philadelphia 76ers (19-21, first in the Atlantic) TONIGHT. Though the Wizards have the second-best record in the East, just 3.5 games behind the Heat, they have the fourth seed because of the divisional alignment. Meanwhile, Philadelphia has the eighth best record but the third seed. Go figure. The game starts at 7:00pm Eastern and will be broadcast on Comcast SportsNet and NBA League Pass.
TEAM NOTES
Wizards Magazinerecently got together with guard Juan Dixonwho has provided a spark in the absence of Larry Hughes.
INJURY UPDATE
Peter John Ramos(knee),Steve Blake(ankle),Kwame Brown (ankle) are all on the injured list, where there's not even enough room for Larry Hughes(thumb).Juan Dixon(flu) missed a second game.Blake may be activated as soon as Wednesday, possibly even in time for tonight's game.
Michael Lee ofThe Washington Postwrites: After playing a combined 22 minutes against San Antonio and Dallas last week, Wizards center Brendan Haywood forced Coach Eddie Jordan to keep him on the floor against Toronto and Indiana, as he averaged 13.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks in those two games."He really felt that he really had to be more aggressive after the two games in San Antonio and in Dallas, when he didn't get a lot of time," Jordan said. "It kind of builds up in a player."
Michael Lee ofThe Washington Postwrites: Much to Jordan's chagrin, the Wizards seem to enjoy spotting their opponents big leads before rallying back."I'd like to be ahead, instead of coming back," Jordan said, laughing. Jordan can't explain it but he won't even try, as long as it leads to results like Monday night, when Peeler scored 14 fourth-quarter points to help the Wizards come back from a 17-point first-half deficit to defeat the Cavaliers.
John N. Mitchell ofThe Washington Timeswrites: Last night at Gund Arena in Cleveland KEY NUMBERS: 8 Times that Arenas has scored at least 30 points in a game this season. 57 Percent of shots the Wizards made in the second half.
John N. Mitchell ofThe Washington Timeswrites: Big deficit ... so what? Perhaps the next step in the evolution of NBA players leading the opposing team ... who cares?That was the Washington Wizards' attitude as they moved 10 games above .500 last night in Cleveland, avenging an earlier rout by the Cavaliers and LeBron James with a 106-97 comeback win in front of 17,002 stunned fans at Gund Arena.