After leading the Wizards to victory last night with 33 points -- including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer -- shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson got some love from ESPN's SportsCenter, earning the top play of last night's Top 10. It was the first game-winning shot of Stevenson's career and the Wizards' second winner at the buzzer this season. Antawn Jamison tipped in a shot at the horn two weeks ago to lift Washington over the Los Angeles Clippers.
HOUSTON -- The Wizards' task of defeating the Rockets, led by 7-foot-6 center Yao Ming, appears to have just gotten a little less towering.
Both KRIV-TV in Houston and The Houston Chronicle say that Yao has suffered a stress fracture in his left foot and that they expect the team to announce later today that he will have season-ending surgery. The Rockets are on a 12-game winning streak and were climbing up the Western Conference rankings. Yao, who had missed just one game this season, was averaging 22.0 points and 10.8 rebounds.
Health has been his biggest obstacle since coming to the NBA six seasons ago. Yao has played 82 games in just two seasons. He played 80 games his third year and then was limited to 57, 48 and now 55 games, respectively, in each of the last three seasons.
The only other true center on the Rockets' roster is Dekembe Mutombo, who has played in just 14 games this season. Rookie Luis Scola is listed on the roster as a forward/center, so he could tangle with Brendan Haywood quite a bit tonight.
Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said yesterday that he and the team's medical staff is considering having Caron Butler almost entirely scrap rehabbing in hopes that rest will help the forward's strained left hip flexor heal more quickly.
Today when the Wizards took to the air for back-to-back road games at New Orleans (tomorrow) and Houston (Tuesday), they left Butler behind. Butler has missed the last eight games, and 11 of the last 13, with that hip injury. Nearly every day, however, he has taken the court to test it, either with light calisthenics or light shooting. He still remains far from returning, so now the Wizards are trying a different course of action.
Last night Jordan wouldn't speculate as to when Butler, or Gilbert Arenas, would return, but indicated that it will still be a while for both players.
From Houston, the Wizards fly to Chicago, where they'll play the Bulls on Friday. They return to the District where they'll play host to New Orleans next Sunday.
-- Mike Jones
Wizards coach Eddie Jordan just told us that he can't see Gilbert Arenas returning from knee surgery by Arenas' projected date of March 2.
"No. I'm not," Jordan said when asked how optimistic he was about Arenas returning next week. "And I'm very close to repeating what Rick Pitino said a few years ago, but I'm not gonna repeat that. There's nobody coming in to save us right now. It's what we have in the locker room. I've got 10 guys in the locker room that I'm coaching tonight and that's the only that matters right now. I'm not in the prediction business because I can't."
Arenas went through some light non-contact drills in practice on Monday, and missed the practice both Wednesday and Thursday. He did play rookie Nick Young one-on-one a few time this week, but soon after Jordan spoke, echoed the coach's sentiments that he is further away from returning than expected.
"It may take me longer to get in shape," said Arenas, who has missed all but eight games this season after having knee surgery in November. "That's why I'm out there with Nick trying to get some rhythm back in my legs, get some cardio in and that's all I'm working on. Truthfully, it's hard to tell. If I really wanted to get out there, I can go play now, but you're going to get two good minutes out of me right now. But I'm trying to get in shape, get my body used to playing again."
Forward Caron Butler remains inactive after missing the last seven games with a strained left hip flexor. Jordan said he isn't sure when Butler will return to action either, and that the Wizards' athletic trainers may scale back on the rehab work they have been doing with Butler in hopes that complete rest will help Butler heal faster.
The number keeps going up. Caron Butler, Antonio Daniels, DeShawn Stevenson, Gilbert Arenas and Etan Thomas all missed practice today.
Jordan expects Butler to miss a seventh straight game with that strained left hip flexor. He said Daniels (bone spurs) is more likely for tomorrow night than is Stevenson (knee), but that he wouldn't be surprised if Stevenson did play because "he's a warrior" and hasn't missed a start in 135 regular season games for the Wizards.
Arenas (knee surgery) took the court after practice and took on rookies Nick Young and Oleksiy Pecherov in a three-way rotating game of one-one-one (which Young proudly won). But the Wizards' leading scorer continues a cautious approach in his return to action.
Thomas (heart surgery) missed his second straight practice after taking the court Monday, but experienced soreness in his sternum after taking part in contact drills.
Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and DeShawn Stevenson all missed practice today. Arenas, who two days ago was cleared to resume light non-contact work with the team after having knee surgery in November, was on the court for five minutes, Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said, "but that was it."
Arenas joined the team Monday in their first practice after the All-Star break but didn't take part in any five-on-five drills. Jordan said Arenas had some soreness and that that is to be expected and that hopefully next practice he can do a bit more. When asked how realistic the "loose" return date of March 2 was, Jordan said "I don't know about the March 2 date. I'm thinking about today, tomorrow and Friday."
Butler missed another practice with that strained left hip flexor. He has missed the last six games and nine of the last 11, went through a full practice Monday and did some work in yesterday morning's shootaround but did not play in last night's game. He said after last night's loss to New York that he's still suffering from some soreness in the hip.
Stevenson, who has been slowed by a sore knee, wore flip-flops today but said missing practice was just a precaution because he wants to be able to go hard in tomorrow's practice, which precedes Friday's game in Cleveland.
Also resting was Etan Thomas, who took part in Monday's practice -- his first this season after undergoing surgery to repair a leak in his aortic valve in October -- but had to scale back today after experiencing soreness in his chest after taking some contact. Thomas, who did some light shooting and a few walk-thru type drills today, said last night that his heart is fine, but his sternum is still sore and that he'll just have to take it slow.
Wizards forward Caron Butler will miss his sixth straight game and his eighth in the last two weeks as he continues to heal from a strained left hip flexor. Andray Blatche will again start in place of Butler.
"He practiced yesterday," Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said. "And he went further along in practice than he had done in the past, and yet, in shootaround, he started shootaround and thought that was enough. There is some progress, there's gonna be some setbacks here and there, and this was a setback."
Butler first suffered the injury Jan. 27 in Milwaukee with just over two minutes left in an overtime loss in which he scored a career-high 40 points. He missed the next three games and returned against the Lakers on Feb. 3. Two nights later against Philadelphia, Butler left in the third quarter after reinjuring his hip.
Butler, who admits he rushed back prematurely the first time around, missed the entire four-game West Coast trip and this past weekend's All-Star game. He said over the weekend that he was making progress, but that he didn't want to return unless he was 100 percent so he wouldn't run the risk of having the injury flare up again during the final stretch of the season.
Blatche, who has started every game in place of Butler, is in his third year and has averaged 13.4 points and 9.6 rebounds as the starting forward.
The Wizards traditionaly don't make moves before the midseason trade deadline (Thursday, Feb. 21), and this year appears to be no different.
Team president Ernie Grunfeld indicated this morning that the Wizards are happy with what they have and that they're looking forward to getting everyone healthy and gearing up for what they believe can be a surge down the stretch and into the playoffs.
The Wizards expect to get Caron Butler back some time next week. And Agent Zero is eyeing March 1 as a loose target date. Antonio Daniels (knee, ankle) and DeShawn Stevenson (knee) also will welcome the All-Star break as a time to recover and recharge for the second half of the season.
And given that the Wizards' young players have seen more playing time with veterans injured, Grunfeld likes his team's chances once they're back at full force.
"We've got people coming back [from injury] and even without Gilbert, we have a competitive ball club," he said. "We beat Boston back to back and Dallas a few days later. So I'm looking forward to getting all our pieces together again."
Wizards forward Caron Butler took only limited work in the team's shootaround in Los Angeles this morning in preparation for tonight's game against the Clippers, and it's unlikely that he will play.
Butler, who is averaging 21.4 points a game, is listed as a game-time decision, but that's the same way the team has labeled him the last few games. If he doesn't play tonight, Butler will have missed and the eighth in the last two weeks since he strained his left hip flexor on Jan. 27 against Milwaukee.
If Butler still in active tonight, that means he likely will miss Sunday's All-Star game in New Orleans, which would've marked his second straight appearance. Any announcement on Butler's withdrawal from the game, and/or word on a replacement, will come from the NBA.
Stay tuned ... You'll know as soon as I do.
As far as Antonio Daniels goes, the point guard participated in the team's shootaround this morning and is listed as a game-time decision, but likely will return to action after missing the last two games with bone spurs in his right ankle.
Before last night's game against Phoenix, Wizards coach Eddie Jordan wasn't too optimistic that his team would have the services of shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson. After seeing the guard slowed by a chronic knee problem during the Wizards' shootaround yesterday morning, Jordan didn't think Stevenson would be able to play much.
The soreness in Stevenson's left knee was nothing new, it was just getting worse. But Stevenson did start last night, and despite twisting the same knee and hopping off the floor at one point in the first half, he recorded 18 points (including three 3-pointers), two rebounds and two assists in 34 minutes in the Wizards' 108-107 loss to the Suns.
"DeShawn was a warrior, just a warrior out there," Jordan said. "He's out there on one wheel. Hopefully we can get him out there tomorrow [today against Golden State] and monitor his minutes a bit more, but he was a Warrior. Everybody else, but he certainly led the charge."
Tonight's game against Golden State would mark Stevenson's 218th consecutive start.
"He just likes to play. He's built that way. Built to get through pain I guess," Jordan said.
Stevenson received treatment for his knee after the game and hopes to go tonight.
"It's just hard for me to sit out games. I've been playing since I was a kid and it's just hard for me to watch my team go out there and be sitting on the bench. My knee hurts pretty bad, but I've just gotta go out there and suck it up. ... Just gotta suck it up. If I don't go out there, we don't have nobody else. I don't care if I'm out there on one knee, I just gotta do it."
Watching Stevenson hobble around the locker room like an old man after he gutted it out on the court, fellow guard Roger Mason Jr. was basically in disbelief.
"I got so much respect for you, Dog," Mason said to Stevenson. "Seeing you out there with all the pain you're going through. I've just got so much respect for you."
Giving his pre-game injury update Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said "Antonio is out, Caron is out, and DeShawn is half in."
As expected, a hip injury will keep Butler out for a third straight game -- sixth in the last two weeks -- and bone spurs in his right ankle will force Daniels out.
But Stevenson's injury was news. Jordan said the guard has been playing on a very sore left knee. Jordan said he "gimped around in practice this morning and he's gonna give it a try and see how it goes."
That means a lot of Nick Young at shooting guard.
"What did we dub this?" Jordan said. "The Rookie Tour, remember? This is definitely it."
Shaq sighting
The Big Fella is in the house, but not in uniform. He flew from Miami to Phoenix today, arrived here at US Airways Center and went through a rigorous workout in the weight room. He then sauntered down the hall dripping in sweat and went into a closed practice court. He then came out and went back into the weight room, but didn't speak to the media.
Once the game started, he was decked out in a tan suit and sitting in the middle of the Suns' bench. When a timeout was called three minutes into the game, Shaq rose from his seat nodding his head like an approving father and high-fived his teammates as they came off the court.
-- Mike Jones
Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said after the team's shootaround here in Phoenix that forward Caron Butler and point guard Antonio Daniels will both probably miss tonight's game against the Suns.
Butler is nursing a strained left hip flexor and has missed five games in the last two weeks. Daniels is sidelined with bone spurs in his right ankle and was limited to six minutes in Friday's loss in Denver.
Butler, who Jordan said is getting better, did some work early in the session but was dismissed before the session was completed. Daniels sat and watched, wearing flipflops.
Jordan still hopes Butler will return to action at some point during the road trip, but said the Wizards will just have to play it by ear. He actually expects Butler to get back onto the court before Daniels.
"Caron is probably ahead of Antonio," Jordan said. "Whether its a day, two days or a half a day, he seems to be ahead of Antonio. But anything can happen overnight. A.D., he's a tough guy. He likes to try it when it's painful, but what we don't want him to do is try it when it's injured.""
Butler and Daniels are the third starter from this season to miss time. All-Star point guard Gilbert Arenas has missed all but eight games after having knee surgery in November.
Arenas, who is on this trip with the Wizards, plans to begin practicing with the team after this week's All-Star break. Jordan said the Wizards' medical team is being very cautious with Arenas. He has done a lot of work on the trainers' table and in the weight room, and that he's done some stand-still shooting, but hasn't done any running on the court.
"We're still thinking an in general area of March 1st as a loose sort of date," Jordan said. "We'll see where he is and get a really good feel for it, but that's all I really know."
-- Mike Jones
Carmelo Anthony lit the Wizards up in Friday night's 111-100 victory for a career-high 49 points, going 19-for-25 from the field and 8-for-8 from the foul line. It was the highest total the Wizards have given up to a single player this season.
Anthony, who had 20 points in the first quarter alone, previously held a career high of 45 points. And he had actually left Friday's game in the third quarter with40 points under his belt. But when Nuggets coach George Karl realized his star player was only six points away from setting a new career high -- and believing the game wasn't totally in hand -- he sent him back into the game with 5:41 left and his team up 95-84.
The Denver fans, aware Melo was closing in on the milestone, whipped into a frenzy, screaming for him to get the ball every time the Nuggets came down the court.
Anthony scored on a jumper 35 seconds later, and then with 1:53 left to play, sank a layup to pick up his 44th point of the game. Then with 1:24 remaining, he hit a 3-pointer to surpass his previous high. He later sank two foul shots to complete his spree.
Wizards coach Eddie Jordan wasn't particularly pleased to have been a part of Anthony's big night.
"The end part of that game was a little bit on the classless side," Jordan said. "You know, we all have our ways. You get your butt kicked, the other team can do what they want to do, but I thought it was very classless how they closed the game out. But again, I have my opinion; I can say what I wanna say. That's what I thought it was."
When asked about Jordan's take, Karl disagreed.
"I didn't play my bench much all night. I just wanted to play the game out," he said. "Melo, the players felt, they wanted to give Melo an opportunity to get a career high. I think it's a positive. I don't think we embarrassed or tried to insult anybody. We played the game with our starters in the game, they decided to double team at the end and I thought our guys did the right thing. Just let it go."
Anthony also was taken aback by Jordan's opinion.
"I had 40 points and we was up only nine points with six minutes to go in the game," he said. "We were still trying to win the basketball game. We weren't trying to embarrass nobody out there. … I don't think it was classless. He can go ahead and say it, but I don't think it was classless."
It was tough to watch, and no doubt Jordan was frustrated by his team losing its sixth straight game, but "classless" might be a bit harsh. As Jordan said, he has a right to his own opinion and he does.
But here's my two cents:
If Melo came back into the game with the Nuggets up by 25 or something crazy like that, then I'd say Karl putting him in was kinda rubbing it in. But an 11-point lead against a Wizards team that had already cut double-digit leads down to four points twice isn’t that hefty an advantage.
So Melo going for another six points was pretty harmless. What DID look bad was the way he abused the Wizards. They were double- and sometimes triple-teaming him and everything he threw up went in. Even DeShawn Stevenson admitted that while talking informally after the game.
But hey, you can understand Eddie's mood. He's now down three starters with little relief in sight. Classless, though? Eh, that's probably a bit harsh.
As expected, Caron Butler didn't play tonight in Denver and the Wizards aren't sure when or if he will return to the court during this four-game road stretch. But it gets worse for the Wizards. Point guard Antonio Daniels, who has made 33 starts in place of the injured Gilbert Arenas, left tonight's game after just six minutes, suffering from tendinitis in his right knee. Daniels was forced to miss 12 games earlier this season after straining ligaments in the same knee.
Meanwhile, Melo is putting on a clinic. He came out with guns blazing, scoring 20 points in the first quarter -- a season high allowed by the Wizards -- and had 29 at halftime. That's also the most the Wizards have allowed in a half. Anthony made eight of his first nine shots and by halftime had missed only twice more in 15 attempts. Denver held a 46-25 lead with 6:35 left in the first half, but the Wizards mustered a semi-rally and trimmed the lead to 56-47 at halftime.
DeShawn Stevenson said focus will be key during the West Coast trip. It begins in Denver, then Phoenix, Golden State and concludes with the L.A. Clipper. One of the main reasons it will be harder to focus, Stevenson said, is that he will be returning home for the first time and has to round up roughly 15 tickets for the Clippers game for family and friends.
Stevenson, a Fresno native, won't be alone in his homecoming. Gilbert Arenas and rookie Nick Young are both from Los Angeles and rookie forward Dominic McGuire is from San Diego. So the Cali quartet will likely have Wizards staff members scrambling to acquire a large collection of tickets.
Sound bites:
Eddie Jordan on the West Coast swing:
"What will make for a successful trip? Success is winning all our games. Moderate success winning some. No success is win none.
Jordan on pushing the right buttons for consistent play:
"It's an emotional roller coaster. We've gotta have all our guys play hard. They understand the message ... let's see who's playing hard, let's see who's listening, who's physical enough. It's about a group of guys getting it done. It's their job, too, to push their buttons. We can only do so much. They've got a job to do, too."
Stevenson on being underestimated:
"I think any team that's seen us lose these games wants us to come in there and play us, but at the same time, we've gotta be focused, play hard, play smart. We don't have Caron out there where we can make a mistake and still get back in the game. But we've gotta play through Antawn and everybody's gotta step up."
Brendan Haywood on not focusing on the long West Coast stretch:
"Once you step on the court, basketball's basketball. The courts are the same length, hoops are the same height. It's all about staying focused and taking care of business."
While the Phoenix Suns raised eyebrows by trading for seemingly over-the-hill Shaquille O'Neal, many inside the Wizards' locker room believe Phoenix G.M. Steve Kerr made a move that will win him the championship either this year or next year.
Gilbert Arenas and DeShawn Stevenson expect Shaq -- slowed recently by a hip injury -- to make a miraculous recovery and start contributing right away. Arenas pointed out that the trade allows Phoenix forward Amare Stoudemire to move back to his natural position of power forward, and with all the Suns' shooters, opposing team's won't be able to double team the Diesel. The Wizards believe that with Shaq, the Suns will give something they've never had -- a legitimate post-up threat.
The way the Wizards see it, although Shaq is averaging a career-low 14.2 points and 7.8 rebounds, it's likely his numbers will increase now that O'Neal is on a team that has more weapons than just himself and Dwyane Wade; opponents won't have the luxury of double-teaming him all the time without paying dearly for it. Arenas envisions the Suns abandoning their run-and-gun game when Shaq's in the game and opening things up by dumping the ball into the paint, which will force opponents to crash to the paint. Shaq, a pretty solid passer, will then be able to find an open opponent on the perimeter and zip the ball to him for an easy shot.
-- Mike Jones
The Washington Wizards could greatly benefit from the All-Star break.
In addition to playing without leading scorer Gilbert Arenas, the Wizards had to play without Caron Butler three games last week because of a strained left hip flexor. He returned for Sunday's loss to the Lakers and despite experiencing some knee soreness, played last night at Philly. But with two minutes left in the third quarter, while backpedaling down the court, Butler felt his hip lock up on him again. He left the game and didn't return and the Wizards collapsed down the stretch for their fourth straight loss.
Butler likely won't play tonight against San Antonio. But he's not the only injured Wizard. A few of his teammates are battered, but continue to play through pain.
So, an intermission is definitely needed. The only problem is, the All-Star break doesn't happen for another week.
And before that rest period, the Wizards must take on the defending champion Spurs tonight at Verizon Center. Then comes a six-day, four-game West Coast swing. Washington plays in Denver on Friday, then at Phoenix on Sunday, a trip to Golden State and then a visit to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The common theme among the last four teams is they all like to get out and run. Not exactly a good thing for a weary team.
The Wizards press on, however, because they know they have no other choice.
"It's definitely frustrating," center Brendan Haywood said last night. "Right now we're banged up and the thing is, we're banged up but we're about to run into roughest part of our schedule. Gil's been out all year. Caron's trying, but he's still hurt. He probably needs some time. We've got a couple other guys that are banged up but they're trying to go because they know we have to, we have nobody else. It's frustrating, but hey, that's the hand we're dealt. Let's go play."
If there's one thing that the Wizards' recent 2-5 stretch has shown, it's that Washington is in no way, shape or form better off without Gilbert Arenas, which some outsiders had started to wonder after watching the team play at a surprisingly high level without their injured star.
But you have to look at the teams the Wizards were beating during that 8-5 month of December and 7-3 start to January.
Yes, they beat Boston twice, but the Celtics haven't been healthy in the new year. They beat Dallas on Martin Luther King Day, but the Mavericks are like a seesaw this season. In December Washington beat Toronto, Cleveland without Lebron, New Jersey, Minnesota, Miami (twice), Sacramento and Charlotte.
Not trying to discount the wins here -- not at all -- or the Wizards' play.
Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison have taken this team on their backs and carried them with All-Star caliber play. But it's hard to play at such a high level all the time.
What has happened when one of those two has an off night? Or, if one of them is hurt -- case in point: Butler missing three games last week with a hip injury -- what happens to the Wizards? They don't have enough firepower to fill the void.
Against Utah, Jamison had 31 points and 11 rebounds. Andray Blatche added 19 points and 13 rebounds, but down the stretch, the Wizards fizzled and lost by nine. As coach Eddie Jordan pointed out, Jamison carried the load as much as he could but didn't get much help when it really counted.
The Wizards lost badly to the Raptors last Wednesday and to the Lakers yesterday. Arenas' explosive scoring capabilities could've made for a different story. They might've still lost, but not by such hefty margins.
Agent Zero plans to hit the court during shootarounds while the team is on its West Coast trip later this week and early next week. He plans to start practicing after the All-Star break, targeting a March 1 return to action.
For the Wizards, it can't happen soon enough. His return will provide a much-needed boost and could make the Wizards quite dangerous.
Imagine The Big Three aided by the young players who have gained experience and confidence when called upon with Arenas out this season. They could definitely make some noise down the stretch and in the playoffs. It's just a matter of staying afloat while waiting for the return of Gil.
After spending three games on the bench while allowing his strained left hip flexor to heal, Caron Butler is playing today against the Los Angeles Lakers. Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said he and his assistants will closely monitor Butler's minutes and see how he responds to contact.
Pau mania
The Lakers' trade for Pau Gasol officially went through this morning and the 7-foot Spaniard gave his first press conference since being shipped out of Memphis for Kwame Brown, two first round picks and two other players. The blockbuster move has whipped not only the NBA community into a frenzy, but also Gasol's supporters in Spain. Roughly 30 members of the Spanish media decended upon Verizon Center this morning, making the Wizards' normally comfortable interview room rather crammed. The first seven minutes of Gasol's 10-minute press conference was conducted in spanish. Finally one of the American reporters interrupted and asked, "Now, what did you just say in all that?" Gasol laughed and said, "That's a lot of rewinding to do."
He went on to say "I can't believe what just happened. I am truly excited about what I am going through right now. I didn't see it coming. I didn't know anything about it. I found out after practice and the next thing I know, three hours later, I was on a plane to Los Angeles. I am really excited and I am trying to digest everything I am going through. I am ready to rock and roll."
Gasol on the best part of the trade: "I think everything is good about it. The best part is that right away I will have the chance to win. We have the opportunity to go out there and accomplish something great and something special. This is a great team, coaching staff and great organization. It is one of the best, if not the best."
Gasol on the pressure to win: "I think it is a great kind of pressure. The pressure to win and being one of the favorites is what you want, and something that I have been missing since I have been in the NBA. I love that I have that with my national team every summer. I had that before I was in the NBA, with Barcelona, and that is what i have from now on."
Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Gasol won't play, believing that it is better to let him have at least one practice in the Triangle Offense and get a feel for things. But once Gasol has a chance to "get his feet under him," Jackson expects him to give the Lakers a boost.
"He's a skilled player," Jackson said. "He can shoot ball, pass and do a lot of things. In this game, size helps a lot and we haven't had a scoring post since [Andrew] Bynum's been out, so [Gasol] can help us a little bit and take some pressure off Kobe."
The Lakers created a buzz yesterday with the blockbuster trade that brought in Pau Gasol for Kwame Garbage. But don't expect to see the 7-foot Spaniard on the court at Verizon Center on Sunday. Gasol had to fly to L.A. to take a physical and hasn't practiced with the team. Wouldn't be too great an idea to throw him into a complex offense like the Triangle without a little prep work.
Caron Butler -- the man that in a roundabout way made it possible for the Lakers to land Gasol (bamboozle swap of Butler for Kwame) -- has a shot at ending his three-game absence. The All-Star forward strained his left hip flexor in Sunday's overtime loss to Milwaukee, and the Wizards are 1-2 without him this week and 5-22 the last two seasons combined when he doesn't play. Tough Juice took part in a shootaround today and is listed as a game-time decision. He said in the locker room Friday night that he plans on playing against his former team.
-- Mike Jones
Gilbert Arenas said he's 20 to 30 days away from returning to action -- which he says early on will be in a reserve mode. The point guard said he's running now and will most likely hit the court for some work while on the team's four-game West Coast swing Feb. 8-13. He then plans to start practicing with the team after the All-Star break.
The Wizards will go without Caron Butler for a third straight game. The forward, who is the team's active leading scorer with 21.9 points a game, is at Verizon Center tonight, and said he had gotten over the worst of the flu, which kept him home yesterday. But he's still limping around, the effects of the left hip flexor strain suffered in Milwaukee on Sunday. The hope is that he can play Sunday when Kobe and the new-look Lakers come to town.
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