'But It Does Get You Real Close To It'
Gilbert Arenas, on the advice of team doctors and trainers, slowly made his way back into the Wizards' playing line up.
But the slow and steady way of easing the injured player back into the fold didn't guarantee a win for the team, as the Detroit Pistons won in the final seconds, 98-96.
Don't get me wrong, for a dude who has been out for most of two seasons, Gilbert had a solid performance, scoring fifteen points, dishing out ten assists. He looked confident, and even played like his old self.
In fact, the team seemingly flowed in concert, and the disparagingly frustrated looks I'd seen on the player's faces in the last couple of home games when the opponent scored yet another easy bucket that shouldn't have been granted, was almost non existent in this game.
The Wiz came out strong in the second half, shooting 41.5%, leading 43-38 at the quarter's end - by which time Gilbert already had ten points. But it was the third quarter (again) that became a bit a of a challenge as they struggled to come back from a fifteen point deficit off of three 3- point shots from Rip Hamilton who had a phenomenal night of scoring with thirty-one points.
The fourth quarter is where the Wizards came back to life and slowly began creeping up on Detroit. Amazingly, the Pistons did not score in the first three minutes of the third quarter, which helped the Wizards get within one point, and eventually gain an 87-86 lead off an Arenas no-look, behind-the-back pass to Dominic McQuire, who jammed it in for two points.
Detroit's Hamilton and McDyess would rally the Detroit team, giving them a 96-93 lead with 1:13 remaining in the game. Wizards' Andray Blatche would get a dunk off an Arenas pass to make it 96-95 Detroit with :26.3 seconds. Arenas fouled Hamilton, sending him to the free-throw line with 5.0 seconds remaining. Hamilton connected on both shots, bringing the score to 98-95.
Hamilton reciprocated, fouling Arenas with 4.5 seconds, sending Arenas to the foul line for two.
Gilbert scored the first, missing the second free-throw attempt.
With the score now 96-98, Detroit, the Wizards regained possession. In the last 2.3 seconds, Gilbert could have tried to at least tied the game, 98-98, which could have sent the game into a possible overtime, but his three-point shot attempt was blocked by Kwame Brown.
Detroit wins, 98-96 over the Wizards. (Photos!)
The Wizards had five players in double figures, Antawn Jamison leading the way with twenty-one.
The Wizards lost to Indiana, 115-124 on Sunday. Arenas did not play.
Gilbert Arenas, on the advice of team doctors and trainers, slowly made his way back into the Wizards' playing line up. But the slow and steady way of easing the injured player back into the fold didn't guarantee a win for the team, as the Detroit Pistons won in the final seconds, 98-96.
Don't get me wrong, for a dude who has been out for most of two seasons, Gilbert had a solid performance, scoring fifteen points, dishing out ten assists. He looked confident, and even played like his old self.
In fact, the team seemingly flowed in concert, and the disparagingly frustrated looks I'd seen on the player's faces in the last couple of home games when the opponent scored yet another easy bucket that shouldn't have been granted, was almost non existent in this game.
The Wiz came out strong in the second half, shooting 41.5%, leading 43-38 at the quarter's end - by which time Gilbert already had ten points. But it was the third quarter (again) that became a bit a of a challenge as they struggled to come back from a fifteen point deficit off of three 3- point shots from Rip Hamilton who had a phenomenal night of scoring with thirty-one points.
The fourth quarter is where the Wizards came back to life and slowly began creeping up on Detroit. Amazingly, the Pistons did not score in the first three minutes of the third quarter, which helped the Wizards get within one point, and eventually gain an 87-86 lead off an Arenas no-look, behind-the-back pass to Dominic McQuire, who jammed it in for two points.
Detroit's Hamilton and McDyess would rally the Detroit team, giving them a 96-93 lead with 1:13 remaining in the game. Wizards' Andray Blatche would get a dunk off an Arenas pass to make it 96-95 Detroit with :26.3 seconds. Arenas fouled Hamilton, sending him to the free-throw line with 5.0 seconds remaining. Hamilton connected on both shots, bringing the score to 98-95.
Hamilton reciprocated, fouling Arenas with 4.5 seconds, sending Arenas to the foul line for two.
Gilbert scored the first, missing the second free-throw attempt.
With the score now 96-98, Detroit, the Wizards regained possession. In the last 2.3 seconds, Gilbert could have tried to at least tied the game, 98-98, which could have sent the game into a possible overtime, but his three-point shot attempt was blocked by Kwame Brown.
Detroit wins, 98-96 over the Wizards. (Photos!)
The Wizards had five players in double figures, Antawn Jamison leading the way with twenty-one.
The Wizards lost to Indiana, 115-124 on Sunday. Arenas did not play.
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