The double-digit lead was a distant memory, disappearing amid a flurry of jumpers and too few answers. Their goal of finishing fifth in the East was fading fast as well.
That is, until Gilbert Arenas took over, rallying the Wizards and saving their quest for the fifth seed.
Arenas scored 43 points to lead Washington to a 116-103 win over visiting Milwaukee in front of 19,588 fans Tuesday night.
After the Bucks took a 90-87 lead early in the fourth quarter, Arenas scored 11 points in a 15-3 run to help Washington regain control.
“Gil has proven he’s a bonafide major player,” Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said. “He scores, he’s looking out for his teammates; he’s as competitive as anyone; he comes up with big moments.”
Arenas just wanted to match Milwaukee’s Michael Redd, who also scored 43 points.
“He was trying to carry his team on his back,” Arenas said, “I was trying to do the same.”
Washington clinched at least a No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The Wizards (41-40) get the fifth seed with a win tonight at Detroit; the Pistons rested their starters in a loss to Milwaukee Sunday. The Wizards can still clinch with a loss if Indiana wins and Chicago loses. Both teams trail Washington by one game.
But if it’s a three-way tie, the Wizards would finish seventh. They also lose a tiebreaker if they finish tied with Chicago. All three teams play tonight: Indiana hosts Toronto; Chicago hosts Orlando.
In this playoff-like atmosphere, Arenas had help. Antawn Jamison emerged from a mini-slump to score 28 points, including 17 in the first half. Jamison had scored 16 points or less in six of his last eight games. In the past 10 games, he had shot just 40.7 percent from the field – five percent less than his season average.
But he made 10 of 19 field goals. He also grabbed nine boards, as did Brendan Haywood and Jared Jeffries.
Then there was Caron Butler, who finished with 22 points and nine rebounds. Butler as usual provided toughness and hustle, perhaps drawing energy from the packed house.
Wizards spells
» Milwaukee turned the ball over 16 times, leading to 30 points by the Wizards. The Bucks managed just nine points off 10 Washington turnovers.
» Milwaukee’s Michael Redd scored 23 of his 43 points in the third quarter.
» Center Etan Thomas (back) did not play for the second straight game and won’t play tonight.
