Gilbert Arenas scores season-high 45 as Wizards defeat Warriors on the road

Gilbert Arenas stepped up big last night with a season high
45 points and 13 assists in a much needed Wizards victory.
(AP Photo/Ben Margot)

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Wizards' Record: 8-16 (13th in East)
Tonight's Game: Washington @ Phoenix
Game Time: 9:00 p.m. ET. on Comcast SportsNet
and 106.7 The Fan.  Nationally on NBALP.

Gilbert Arenas scored a season-high 45 points and completed 13 assists last night in a skid-ending 118-109 Washington Wizards road victory over the Golden State Warriors.  Monta Ellis lead the Warriors in defeat with 30 points.

What do you do when your team has lost six in a row and your starting shooting guard has averaged less than 5.0 points per game?  If you're Gilbert Arenas, you score 17 points and drop 7 dimes by the end of the first quarter.

It was that kind of night for Gil, who, despite his struggles from the free throw line this season, has all the speed and power in his legs to drive the lane and shoot from downtown like the Hibachi of old.  And after last Wednesday, when rookie point guard Tyreke Evans poked the ball away from Arenas in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, one might say Arenas had something extra to prove in Golden State.

Washington also needed a little extra from Gil last night due to the nagging injuries suffered by Iron Man Antawn Jamison, who collided with Stephen Curry four minutes into the second quarter.  Jamison, now with a "stinger" in his neck from the collision and a sore left shoulder in addition to a sore right shoulder, would play on, but didn't have the stuff, and air-balled threes left and right in the second half.

While Jamison was unable to perform at 100% efficiency, Caron Butler stepped up in the second half and finished the game with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 steals.  Butler and Arenas scored 73 of Washington's 118 points on the night, about 61.9% of the offensive load.  The scoring duo joined Jamison, who finished the night with 10 points and 10 rebounds despite injuries, as well as a spry-looking Brendan Haywood, who had 15 points and 12 rebounds (9 points and 11 rebounds by half).  Nick Young scored 7 off the bench and Andray Blatche chipped in 8.

Last night's victory, and the fact that four Wizards obtained double-doubles in the win, are definitely things Washington and its fans can enjoy.  However, the 8-16 Wizards still have a long road to travel, and allowed Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry to score career-highs of 30 and 27 respectively despite the victory.  Washington will not have the luxury of allowing career-highs against the Phoenix Suns tonight, as the Suns are a much deeper team and free from some of the injuries which have plagued the Warriors.  After Sunday's road game, the Wizards will travel back home to face former Head Coach Eddie Jordan and the Philadelphia 76ers, followed by a three-game swing back on the road before finishing the year back home against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Save on Holiday Purchases
• Wizards Holiday Pack ($99/$199 -- 2 tickets to 3 home games & Gilbert Arenas replica jersey)
• NBA.com 12-Day Sale Deal of the Day
• Enter "WIZGIFTS" at checkout at the Washington Wizards Store for a 10% off discount

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