Arenas returns, but Bucks top Wizards
Updated: 2008-04-03 11:07
WASHINGTON - Agent Zero is back. Now the Washington Wizards have to figure out how to win with him. Gilbert Arenas made a surprise return Wednesday night after 66 games away, but Ramon Sessions provided the Arenas-like dramatics with a 19-foot jumper at the buzzer to give the Milwaukee Bucks a 110-109 victory over the Wizards.
 Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas puts the ball in play during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 2, 2008, in Washington. [Agencies] |
The Bucks, who never led by more than one point, set up the perfect inbounds play to win the game. With 1.1 seconds left, Royal Ivey threw the ball in to Andrew Bogut, who found Sessions open in the corner. There was barely a tick left on the clock as the ball left Sessions' hands, but the shot was clearly good upon instant replay review.
Sessions gave the Bucks a chance to win by chasing down a loose ball in the backcourt after losing a jump ball to Caron Butler with 6.3 seconds left. Butler tipped the ball toward teammate Antawn Jamison, but Jamison had to dive into the second row of seats to save it inbounds, keeping it alive for the hustling Sessions.
Until then, the evening belonged to Arenas, who scored 17 points and made a pair of free throws with 15 seconds to play to give the Wizards the lead. Arenas played 19 minutes and shot 5-of-9 from the field and 5-of-7 on free throws.
Bogut's putback put the Bucks ahead 108-107 with 1:40 left, their first lead since the first quarter. Arenas missed his first chance to put the Wizards back in front, missing a 20-footer with 39 seconds to play.
Charlie Villanueva had 24 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Bucks, who ended an eight-game road losing streak.
Butler and Jamison scored 18 points apiece for the Wizards, who missed a chance to clinch their fourth consecutive playoff berth. Back home after a 2-3 West Coast road trip, Washington also welcomed back Butler (strained left hamstring) and Antonio Daniels (sprained left wrist) after both missed Monday's loss to Utah.
Arenas' return was befitting of the unpredictable three-time All-Star guard. He kept himself under wraps all day, missing the shootaround, the pregame warmup and even the national anthem. He waited until the 5:30 mark of the first quarter to emerge from the locker room in his customary No. 0 jersey.
He entered the game 9 seconds later to a large ovation and scored on a reverse layup with 4:49 left in the first, his first points since Nov. 16 against Minnesota. With his left leg wrapped in a black supportive sleeve, Arenas wasn't exactly smooth when he moved laterally on his twice-surgically repaired knee, but he shot the ball well and came up smiling after diving into the Bucks bench for a loose ball late in the third quarter.
Just 10 days earlier, Arenas wanted to play but couldn't. He stormed out of the locker room before a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers after he didn't get clearance from his doctor.
The doctor gave the go-ahead during the Wizards' road trip, but Arenas continued to sit out. He had previously said he wanted to make his return at home.
Then, on Wednesday, not only did Arenas miss the shootaround usually a prerequisite for playing in the game but assistant coach Mike O'Koren said before the game that Arenas the wouldn't play until "he gets his mind right."
Arenas tore the lateral meniscus in his left knee in the first quarter of a game against Charlotte last April and had season-ending surgery. He rushed his rehabilitation over the summer and lasted only eight games before requiring two more procedures on Nov. 21, fixing a partial tear of the meniscus and repairing a non-weight bearing bone on the side of his knee.
Even Arenas' fashion sense was noticeable. He wore his new red signature shoes, which clashed badly with his white-and-blue uniform and the white-and-blue shoes worn by his teammates.
|
||
|
||
|
|
|
|