The good vibes carried the Wizards deep into the fourth quarter. Gilbert Arenas exited his slump one game earlier; he then officially started a hot streak on this night. DeShawn Stevenson continued his push into the new Big Three. And Caron Butler took over when needed.
Washington even benefitted from a devastating injury by another team, one that makes them a heavy favorite to win the Southeast Division.
So how did the Wizards nearly blow the good karma on Thursday night? Because Sacramento erased a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit, took the lead twice and nearly sent the game into overtime on an improbable three-pointer.
Washington beat Sacramento 109-106 behind Arenas’ 43 points; Butler (25) and Stevenson (21) also scored in double figures. Arenas scored 30 first-half points.
“I came out on fire,” he said. “We feel good. We’ve won three in a row; we’ve started to play great together despite Antawn being out. When he gets back, this team is going to be even better.”
Still, the Kings nearly forced overtime when John Salmons, taking three-quarters-court pass from Brad Miller, made a three-pointer — until officials ruled that it came after the buzzer sounded.
That enabled Washington to barely win a game it led 95-78 in the fourth.
“We’ve got to learn how to finish games off,” Stevenson said. “We made a lot of crazy passes and turnovers.”
The Wizards led 95-78 with eight minutes, 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter when Sacramento went on a 22-4 run. The Kings led twice in the final 3:13; both times Arenas put the Wizards back on top.
“It’s never easy,” Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said. “There are different ways to pull it out and we pulled it out. …So I’m not concerned with that [blowing a 17-point lead] as much.”
The Wizards’ division title hopes also got a boost with some tough news for Miami: All-Star Dwayne Wade separated his left shoulder and likely will miss the rest of the season.
“It’s unfortunate for him,” Jordan said, “as much as you guys think we’re happy about it, we’re not. The guy suffered an injury. I just hope he gets well.”
