Washington (2-3) at Indiana (1-3)

Cloudy Currently: Indianapolis, IN
Temp: 52° F
  • Game info: 7:00 pm EST Fri Nov 6, 2009
  • TV: CSMA, FSIN

By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA, STATS Senior Writer Nov 5, 1:36 pm EST

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The Washington Wizards and Indiana Pacers already have been hit hard by injuries. Surprisingly, Gilbert Arenas(notes) isn’t among the wounded.

Appearing strong after a long bout with knee problems, Arenas leads the Wizards against the Pacers on Friday night in a matchup of short-handed teams.

Washington (2-3) is coming off its second straight loss, 93-89 to Miami on Wednesday night. Mike Miller’s(notes) injury, though, may have bee more troubling than the defeat.

Acquired in a trade with Minnesota in June, Miller sprained his left shoulder in the fourth quarter and is expected to miss seven to 10 days. He’s averaging 8.4 points and 8.2 rebounds, having started all five of Washington’s games.

The Wizards already were without two-time All-Star forward Antwan Jamison, who has not played since injuring his right shoulder in the preseason. He’s expected to miss another two weeks.

Guard Javaris Crittenton(notes) had surgery on his left foot Oct. 23, and he’ll likely be out another month for a Washington team which believed it could be among the Eastern Conference’s best as long as Arenas stayed healthy.

It turns out Arenas has been the least of the Wizards’ concerns. The veteran point guard has shown flashes of regaining the form he had before enduring three operations on his left knee in a span of about 18 months, limiting him to 13 games in 2007-08 and two last season.

Arenas is averaging 27.6 points and 5.6 assists while shooting 41.7 percent from 3-point range. He had 32 points versus the Heat, making 8 of 12 shots from beyond the arc.

Still, Washington shot under 40 percent from the field for the second straight game after hitting 50.6 percent in its first three contests.

“Our players want to have success, and when the team is struggling they believe sometimes that they’re going to be the one to get you out of it and so maybe they’re trying to do too much,” coach Flip Saunders told the Wizards’ official Web site.

Indiana (1-3) didn’t fall into that trap Wednesday night, using tough defense to beat the New York Knicks 101-89.

The Pacers won even though leading rebounder Troy Murphy(notes) sat out with a bruised lower back. He was hurt in the first quarter of Indiana’s 111-93 loss to Denver on Tuesday night.

Coach Jim O’Brien doesn’t know how long the forward will be out, but said Murphy had trouble putting on his shoes Wednesday. He has posted 8.7 points and 9.7 rebounds a contest.

Indiana is without another top player, Mike Dunleavy Jr., who is still recovering from surgery on his right knee.

Without Murphy and Dunleavy, as well as reserve guard Travis Diener(notes) (toe), the Pacers had their best game of the season defensively after surrendering an average of 109.0 points in their previous three games.

“That has to be the signature of our team, that regardless of what we’re doing on the offensive end, we can always stop you on the defensive end,” Indiana forward Danny Granger(notes) said.

Granger is shooting 35.2 percent from the field while averaging 20.3 points in three games since making 10 of 18 shots and scoring 31 points in a season-opening loss to Atlanta.

The All-Star forward averaged 29.0 points in the Pacers’ three games against Washington last season, helping them win two.

Updated Nov 5, 1:36 pm EST
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Team Comparison

Team Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10
Washington 5-10 5th Southeast / 11th East 95.1 99.8 Road 2-6 Lost 1 3-7
Indiana 6-8 4th Central / 9th East 98.3 100.8 Home 4-5 Lost 1 5-5

Notes

F Caron Butler scored a season-high 39 points but couldn't keep the Wizards from matching their worst record for an 82-game season, 19-63, last in the Eastern Conference. ... Washington's Javaris Crittenton did not return after spraining his right ankle with 3:45 left in the third quarter.

Apr 15, 11:24 pm EDT

F Troy Murphy grabbed 12 rebounds to break Clark Kellogg's team record for most rebounds in a season, set in 1983. ... F Danny Granger scored 16 points in the fourth quarter in his 23rd 30-point game of the season. He also had nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks. F Brandon Rush scored 15 of his 24 points in the final period, and G Jarrett Jack had eight points and 10 assists.

Apr 15, 10:52 pm EDT
NBA

14 Comments

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  1. Stephen
    14. Posted by Stephen Thu Nov 12 1:47am EST

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    Wow he did...wait it against the WIZARDS.
    Don't bow down to his greatness yet sheepeople
    wait till he gets knock on his ass by a good team.

    I live in P.B. by the way
    his dad is an ass as well as
    a horrible doctor. Sick of this town love
    affair with a guy that will be a bust in the N.B.A.
  2. Robert
    13. Posted by Robert Wed Nov 11 12:51pm EST

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    Go psycho-t!!!
  3. scade
    12. Posted by scade Mon Nov 9 4:00pm EST

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    its funny how you say he still is a bumb! His dad and grandpa are doctors, he is in the n.b.a. making millions and your on the computer typing craps! Sounds like your the bumb here jerk off!
  4. Jason
    11. Posted by Jason Sat Nov 7 6:43pm EST

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    He's still a bumb.
  5. Panthro
    10. Posted by Panthro Sat Nov 7 4:23am EST

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    Ty was impressive for his first game. Team looked like a far cry from before. Maybe Mr. Bird knows a thang or two about pickin ummmm ;~) GO PACERS!!!
  6. hans k
    9. Posted by hans k Sat Nov 7 3:15am EST

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    Go Tyler!
  7. john b
    8. Posted by john b Sat Nov 7 12:34am EST

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    13 points in 14 minutes....very impressive.....give him 30 minutes and he'll killyah...
  8. supercolts
    7. Posted by supercolts Sat Nov 7 12:28am EST

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    T Hansbrough looked great in limited time and I just think this guy is going to be something special. I think he will be a difference maker out there. Bird knew what he will be able to do. I think he will show slot of people in the NBA that he can play at that level and play at a high level. Im excited to watch more of him and im really glad the Pacers got him. Granger, Rush, D.Jones, Hibbert and now Hansbrough...this young team will compete in the playoffs in the next eyar or two
  9. HOOK
    6. Posted by HOOK Fri Nov 6 11:24pm EST

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    I hope the Wizards don't expect to win by shooting under 40% and giving up near 20 turnovers.
  10. John F
    5. Posted by John F Fri Nov 6 11:10pm EST

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    To all the haters of Psycho-T....SHUT UP!!!!!!!

    This man will become a SOLID player in the NBA!!!!!
  11. Lind
    4. Posted by Lind Fri Nov 6 10:46pm EST

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    Hansbrough for MVP in 2009-10!!!!!
  12. lakeshow
    3. Posted by lakeshow Fri Nov 6 10:35pm EST

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    Well, this game just answered my questions. Tyler will be an NBA player maybe not an all star, but he will be of value. So, all of the geniuses can go sit down
  13. david
    2. Posted by david Fri Nov 6 10:01pm EST

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    Congrats Tyler Hansbrough on a Very Impressive Debut, You are the All Time Greatest Scorer in the History of the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) and I wish you all the Success in the NBA. Go Get 'em Tyler!!
  14. HOOK
    1. Posted by HOOK Fri Nov 6 11:48am EST

    Report Abuse

    This is a game the Wizards should Win. Go Wizards!!!
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