DCist was in the house last night when the Washington Wizards faced off against the Boston Celtics at the MCI Center as both teams fought for playoff positioning and home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Boston’s Antoine Walker sat out with a knee injury, but All Star Antawn Jamison returned to action after an 11 game absence for the Wizards.
Unfortunately, as well as Jamison played in his return, it wasn’t enough as the Celtics won 116-108 in a game that showcased the best and worst of the Wizards. After falling behind in the first quarter by 16 and as much as 15 in the second half, the Wizards rallied in the third behind 16 straight points from Jamison and a career high tying 43 from Gilbert Arenas. They took a one point lead with just over seven minutes to play but couldn’t hold on as the Celtics outscored the home team by a 21-12 margin over the final five and a half minutes. Boston made all 17 of their free throws in the fourth quarter and had seven players in double figures.
The rash of injuries for the Wizards appear to be taking their toll as the Celtics bench outscored their counterparts by a 39-6 margin. Kwame Brown in particular had a rough game. One sequence in the third quarter saw him miss two free throws, get called for defensive three seconds on the ensuing possesion and then fumble a pass for an easy lay-up the next time down the court. This prompted a shower of boos from the crowd and banished him to the bench.
Fortunately for the Wizards, the Chicago Bulls lost in Miami to the Heat so the two teams are still tied for fourth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race. With only nine games left in the season, Arenas knows there can’t be any further let downs. “We’re on cruise control and I don’t know why,” he told the Post. “We’re not doing it on purpose. We’re comfortable at home. We feel like we can turn it on. But it’s not the beginning of the season anymore. Teams are coming at us. It ain’t going to be easy from now on.”
They travel to Detroit tonight to take on the defending World Champion Pistons at 7:30.
