DC Metro Sports - Arenas and Wizards Extends The Pacers Losing Streak

Written by Teon Abrams
Thursday, 15 November 2007
The Washington Wizards started the game like they had something to prove to the Indian Pacers after losing to them in overtime in the opening game of the season at Conseco Fieldhouse. Gilbert Arenas finished the game with 30 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds to give the Wizards a 103-90 victory over the Pacers. In the season opener against the Pacers, Arenas shot 10 of 25 from the field but last night was a different outcome. Arenas regained his shooting touch by going 50 percent from the field against the struggling Pacers team. "I finally got to touch the basketball before the beginning of the game," said Arenas. "I got to practice a little bit this week, so I felt good coming into this game." It did not matter who was checking Arenas. He was able to find his shots pretty easy or drove to the basket for lay-ups. On the other hand, the Pacers began the game shooting a miserable 6-for-24 from the field in the first quarter. They had good open shots but was not able to knock them down. Caron Butler set the tempo early for the team in the first quarter where he had a game high 14 points and 5 rebounds. Butler dominated one of the Pacers best players, Danny Granger by shooting mid-range jump shots every opportunity he got in receiving the ball. Granger was a little taller than Butler, making it look like a mis-match all night. When Butler was not scoring points he was grabbing rebounds for his team. However, Butler only attempted one shot in the second quarter which he made and got fouled going up for a lay-up. Butler finished with 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals. The Pacers got a much needed spark from Marquis Daniels in the second quarter where he scored 7 points and helped out his fellow teammate Jermaine O'Neal who had 8 points in the quarter too. The Wizards outplayed the Pacers in the first half and went into the locker room with a 56-41 lead. The entire team was playing with a lot of energy on both ends of the court but they did let the Pacers get some easy lay-ups. After halftime, Antawn Jamison came out making his first shot of the second half after struggling in the first half. Jamison finished with 7 points (a season-low), 3-for-11 from the field and 5 rebounds. Coming into the game, Jamison was averaging 20.2 points and 11.2 rebounds through 6 games. When one of the big three were not playing well, someone else has to step their game up. That person was Brendan Haywood, who has been improving each game of the season. Haywood was getting the ball in the post early on in the game and was giving one of the league's best defenders, Jermaine O'Neal a hard time on both ends of the court. Haywood finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Although the season is very young, Haywood is making his presence felt on the court. He's got five double doubles in his first 7 games of the season. "Whenever he plays well, we play well," said Caron Butler on Brendan Haywood's performance. The Pacers attempted to make a fourth quarter comeback but Darius Songaila made a clutch shot to increase the lead 95-84. Mike Dunleavy followed with a two point jump shot which brought the Pacers a little closer 95-86, but the Wizards held off the Pacers comeback in the final three minutes. Dunleavy finished with 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, he went on to say "It’s really hard to pinpoint, but offensively it’s just not happening." The Pacers finished the game shooting 39.3 percent from the field. "I think the thing that got us going in those first three games was that we were making a high volume of those shots," said Indiana's All-Star Center Jermaine O'Neal. "All of a sudden, our shots aren’t falling right now. The negative thing about that is that we’re letting our offense dictate our defense." Pacers started out the season 3-0 but since then, they have been 0-5. This losing streak has a lot to do with Indiana's poor shooting from the field. Jamaal Tinsley finished with 15 points and Marquis Daniels had a team high 19 points. Stats of the Night: Wizards shot 86.7% (26-for-30) from the free-throw line and 48.6% (36-for-74) from the field. Games Notes: Wizards Darius Songaila finished with 12 points and Andrae Blatche finished with 6 points and 5 rebounds. The Wizards next 5 opponents are a combined 11-25. "It's our turn to make a statement," said Gilbert Arenas referencing to their next 5 opponents. Rookies Nick Young and Dominic McGuire did not play last night. The Wizards will travel to Minnesota for a match up Friday night against the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves, then fly back home on Saturday to play the young and talented Portland Trailblazers who will be without this year's #1 draft pick rookie Greg Oden (out for the entire season).

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