With nine losses in their last 10, the Wizards have fallen three games under .500 for the first time since November. With a roster full of injuries, both major and minor, and a daunting schedule this month, it’s likely get worse before it gets better.
After Tuesday’s 113-100 overtime loss at home to the New York Knicks, the Wizards’ frustration was apparent in the words of coach Eddie Jordan and forward Antawn Jamison.
Still, the Wizards remain confident they can compete with any team in the Eastern Conference with their full complement of players. The only question is when that will happen. All-Stars Caron Butler (hip flexor) and Gilbert Arenas (knee), and reserve center Etan Thomas (heart surgery) have experienced minor setbacks this week.
Butler was held out of practice Wednesday after participating on Monday. He will be a game-time decision on Friday when the Wizards play at Cleveland.
Arenas practiced for five minutes Wednesday, before sitting out the rest with soreness in his knee. Thomas was limited to light duty Wednesday after taking a blow to the sternum on Monday. Guard DeShawn Stephenson (knee), who hasn’t missed a start in three years, also sat out Wednesday.
“The NBA is about your best players on the floor, closing games,” said Jordan. “Antawn’s has proven to be a closer for us. But you take that away, and you’ve got to find some other guys to do that for us.”
In addition to the Knicks game, the Wizards could have used another finisher in recent losses to Phoenix, by one point, and Golden State, by three.
“Everybody has injuries, especially this time of the year, but we’ve still shown we can win games,” said guard Roger Mason. “We’ve got to win the games we have a chance to win. Then, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, when we get those two all-stars back.”
Wizards at Cavaliers
When » Friday
Where » Quicken Loans Arena
TV » Comcast SportsNet
Radio » 980 AM
