Wizards challenge new-look Pistons results

October 13, 6:29 PMWashington Wizards ExaminerGeorge Panagakos

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Washington Wizards Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Andray Blatche (left) has played well over the first three games
for Washington, and will need to defend some shooters tonight.
(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

The Washington Wizards square up against the new-look Detroit Pistons at 7:00 p.m. ET tonight in game four of the NBA preseason.  Caron Butler is expected to start tonight for Washington while Brendan Haywood will continue to rest.

In this back-to-back stretch, tonight against Detroit and tomorrow night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, expect Gilbert Arenas to get some rest as well.  Javaris Crittenton is still healing his foot and it's possible the Wizards will choose to keep him out until the regular season begins.

Detroit, as Dave Johnson commented earlier today on the Wizards blog, is not the same Detroit team of years past.  Okay, so Ben Wallace is back in Detroit after being dished out towards Phoenix as the Cavaliers brought in Shaquille O'Neal, but the undrafted 13 year pro is showing his age.  And with his 16.7% free throw percentage over three games, you'd think he was still playing for Washington the way the Wizards have been shooting from the charity stripe lately.

With Allen Iverson not working in Detroit, now in Memphis, Chauncey Billups traded and now in Denver, Rasheed Wallace out in Boston, as well as long time sixth man Antonio McDyess in a San Antonio Spurs uniform, that leaves former Wiz Rip Hamilton and the lengthy Tayshaun Prince as the remaining familiars of a Detroit dynasty. 

Despite losing most of their core, Detroit is a perfect 3-0 this preseason, after going 4-1 over the NBA Las Vegas Summer League (they lost only to Cleveland).  Newcomers Austin Daye and DaJuan Summers (out of Georgetown) allow Detroit to lose guys like Rasheed Wallace, two rookie bigs who can shoot from the outside, while Will Bynum joins newly instated Ben Gordon off the bench for an explosive backcourt.  If that wasn't enough, Detroit still has forward Jason Maxiell as well as pick-up Charlie Villanueva.  It's a loaded team of talent.

Charlie V and once upon a time Wizard Kwame Brown are day-to-day on the injury list and are probable for tonight's game.

Tonight's 7:00 p.m. ET game will not air locally on television but you can tune in to 106.7 The Fan to get your fix.  I'll have a recap and some comments on the game tomorrow morning.

[ Game Notes (PDF)] [ NBA Scoreboard ] 

Game Notes
1st Quarter -- 27-27
In the opening quarter Washington moved the ball well, with a starting line-up of Oberto, Jamison, Butler, Miller, and Arenas.  We all knew Fabricio Oberto would provide Washington with a certain toughness, but he is quickly demonstrating how his passing skills will help the Wizards this season.  Unfortunately for Washington, Detroit also opened with high octane scoring of their own, led by their bench leader Ben Gordon.  Gordon is averaging 19 points per game playing off the bench for Detroit this preseason and is shooting 53.3% from behind the three point arc, and gave Detroit an early spark.

Gilbert Arenas continues to impress, and banked in a buzzer-beater to tie the game as time expired in the first.  Arenas scored 10 points in the quarter and had 1 assist, while Caron Butler scored 7.  Rip Hamilton scored 10 points for Detroit.

2nd Quarter -- 46-45, Wizards
The Wizards cooled off in the second quarter and didn't nail a shot until a Mike Miller lay-up with 8:24 left in the quarter, the score 34-29, Pistons.  Once the 7-0 Detroit run was broken, Randy Foye (6 points) and JaVale McGee (4 points, including a nice slam) continued the Wizards rally. 

In the last three minutes Antawn Jamison and Gilbert Arenas checked back in, the score 41-39, Detroit, and Washington pulled away with a 46-45 lead at half.  Great play by Detroit's Will Bynum, who scored 7 points in the half, as well as Swede Jonas Jerebko, who scored 5 points and snagged 7 rebounds.  Arenas finished the half with 11 points and 3 assists.

After a (very long) short delay due to a net malfunction, which included a blow torch to complete the fix, the game continued.  Head Coach Flip Saunders came over to Dave Johnson and the 106.7 The Fan crew for some candid talk about the situation which was interesting to listen to.  If you're not listening right now, tune in live.

3rd Quarter -- 75-68, Wizards
Washington opened the second half on a 10-3 run, led by Gilbert Arenas.  In another high scoring quarter, Arenas dropped in 13 points to help give Washington the lead. 

Will Bynum led Detroit with 16 points after three and Rip chipped in 14.  Antawn Jamison went on a spree to end the third and finished the quarter with 13 points and 11 rebounds on the game after struggling to find his offense early on.

4th Quarter -- 101-98, Wizards
With Arenas on the bench to start the fourth due the preseason exhibition, the Pistons capitalized with a 8-2 run, cutting the Wizards lead to 77-76.  Detroit kept their hot hand Will Bynum in the game along side Ben Gordon, while Swede Jerebko earned some key minutes up front. 

The Pistons took the lead back and looked to battle for the win but found a tough Wizards cast of McGee, McGuire, Miller, Young, and James.  McGee, who continues to improve his offense and defense, gave the Wizards a push, but neither team could find a big enough opening to keep a lead.

With 2:21 to go in the game the tide would change, as McGuire blocked a Jonas Jerebko jumper which led to a Mike Miller three point dagger, the score 95-91, Wizards.  The Pistons Austin Daye looked for contact and sunk 1-for-2 from the free throw line to give Detroit some swing, but McGee came back with a connection from James to make it 97-92, Wizards, with only 1:10 to go in the game.

In the final minute, Detroit needed a spark.  Bynum went for a drive and scored three points on an and-one situation from the line, making it a two-point, 97-95 contest in the Wizards favor.  James missed a three point shot with 39.5 seconds left, and it looked like Detroit might tie or steal the game, but Miller came up big for Washington with a pass interception.  The Detroit turnover led to two free throws from Nick Young, who sank both, 99-95, Wizards, with 12.7 seconds remaining.

Detroit made one final push, but Ben Gordon could not deliver a three, and the game ended after two free throw makes by James and a too-late three pointer by Detroit's Daye, 101-98, Wizards win.

Arenas led the Wizards with 27 points and 5 assists and 6 turnovers in 24 minutes, while Bynum led Detroit with 23 points and 4 assists off the bench in the loss.  Swede Jerebko had a solid 9 points and 9 rebounds for Detroit.  McGee stole the fourth quarter show as he finished the game with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks.  More tomorrow on the game. 

If you enjoy my column here on Examiner, please subscribe for instant notifications of new articles and follow me on Twitter!