The victory vaulted them into first place in the Southeast Division, an unusual spot for the Wizards in January. Shortly after that win over Orlando, everything changed for Washington.
And now instead of first place being on the line against the Magic tonight, it’s the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. Or worse.
The Wizards (40-40) host Orlando (38-42) in the home finale tonight. They close the regular season with a game at Indiana on Wednesday.
There’s a chance guard Antonio Daniels could play tonight. He missed Sunday’s 33-point loss to Chicago with a lower back contusion, but worked out Monday and performed shooting drills after practice. He’s likely a game-time decision.
“I tried to run [Sunday] before the game and could not at all,” Daniels said, “so any progress is positive. … I am feeling all right.”
That’s better than the Wizards are feeling after seven losses in eight games. Minus Daniels, subbing for injured Gilbert Arenas, they lack a legitimate starting point guard.
“[Tonight] is a game we can win, especially if we have Antonio,” said Wizards coach Eddie Jordan, who added he might change the lineup again.
Also, forward Caron Butler said the cast on his broken right hand could be removed in a week, leaving open the possibility of a return if the Wizards make the second round of the playoffs.
“There’s definitely a chance,” Butler said.
Playoff Scenarios
» Washington earns the No. 6 seed if it wins its last two games. However, the Wizards would fall to seventh if they split their final two games and New Jersey wins its last two. Washington loses the tiebreakers with the Nets (head-to-head); if the Wizards lose their last two and tie with Orlando, the Magic win the tiebreaker based on division record.
» New Jersey entered Monday’s game against New York trailing the Wizards by a game and finishes against Chicago. The Bulls likely will need to win that game to clinch the No. 2 seed. Regardless of the outcome of the Nets’ game, they could still get the sixth seed with one more win and two Wizards’ losses. But the Wizards would clinch sixth with a Nets loss last night and win of their own tonight.
» Orlando, already in the playoffs, could move to sixth if it wins its last two games while the Wizards and Nets lose their last two. If the Magic and Nets end up tied, the Nets would finish ahead based on a better conference record. They split their four-game series this season. The Magic hosts Miami on Wednesday; the Heat are locked into the fourth seed.
Put backs
» In the Wizards’ first three games minus Gilbert Arenas, forward Antawn Jamison averaged 30 points per game and made 30 of 65 field goals. But in the last three games, Jamison has averaged 7.7 points and made eight of 30 shots.
» Washington is 26-14 at home, the fifth best mark in the Eastern Conference. But the Wizards have not won a home game since March 28, a win over Philadelphia. They’ve since dropped five straight at home.
