Midway through the second quarter Sunday, the Wizards had held Chicago to less than 37 percent shooting. That should have signaled a defensive resurgence. Or at least something positive.
Instead, it merely served as a reminder of how bad life has become for the Wizards.
Here’s why: they still trailed by 18.
It got worse. It also could be a sign of things to come.
The Wizards suffered their worst loss of the season, 101-68. Washington set a season-low point total in the loss.
“We’re at the point in the season where we can’t have games like we had today,” Wizards forward Jarvis Hayes said.
“Hopefully this lights a fire under us,” Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said.
There’s a chance Washington (40-40) could finish with the eighth seed if it loses the next two games. In that scenario, if Orlando wins its last two it would finish ahead of the Wizards. There’s also a possibility of a three-way tie if New Jersey, which is currently one game behind the Wizards, splits its last two.
The Wizards final two regular-season games are against Orlando on Tuesday and at Indiana on Wednesday.
Making life tougher, point guard Antonio Daniels did not play Sunday because of a lower back contusion. Jordan said he’s not sure if Daniels will return before the playoffs start this weekend.
Before Sunday, the Wizards had been in every game they’ve played minus injured All-Stars Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas (who showed up for the first time since his injury yesterday to see his teammates before limping to the exit before the game started).
The team has lost seven of its last eight games.
“We have to find a way to get it done,” said forward Antawn Jamison, who has scored just 12 points combined in the past two games. “We have enough to compete and make noise in the playoffs.”
» Notes: Arenas, who had surgery April 5, didn’t use crutches as he hobbled around in black slippers. Butler (broken right hand) sits on the sideline during home games; Arenas hasn’t been there since being hurt.
— The AP contributed to this report.
