We considered giving in to the late west coast start time and going to bed last night with the Wizards leading the Lakers by ten after three quarters during which they’d generally stayed firmly in control. We’re glad we persevered. First, the Lakers staged a major rally late in the fourth quarter driven by stellar three-point shooting and several botched clutch free throws for D.C., forcing overtime. Then, Agent Zero turned the hibachi to high in the bonus period and scored 16 points in five minutes, surpassing first his personal-best of 47 points and then Washington’s franchise record of 56 set by Earl Monroe on February 13, 1968. The explosion puts Arenas in the elite company of Wilt Chamberlain as the only other play to score 60 against the Lakers.

An exhausted Wizards team is on their way to Denver for what would normally be an extremely difficult matchup. How difficult it will be in practice depends on what kind of suspensions the league office hands down later today in the wake of the brawl that broke out during Saturday’s Knicks-Nuggets game. NBA-watchers are expecting suspensions for most of Denver’s starting players, which would certainly tilt the odds back in Washington’s favor.