Arenas dazzles as Washington defeats Detroit

October 14, 10:57 AMWashington Wizards ExaminerGeorge Panagakos

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Former Maryland Terp Chris Wilcox checks Gilbert Arenas
as he drives the lane.  A braced Arenas put on a clinic last
night in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

The Washington Wizards defeated the Detroit Pistons yesterday in a down the wire 101-98 victory.  Gilbert Arenas led Washington with 24 points in just over 27 minutes of play, while Will Bynum led Detroit with 23 in the loss.

The preseason is a time in which strategy moves backwards and forwards, match-ups are tested, and starters seldom play.  Wins and losses are pushed aside, and individual efforts are highlighted.  However, in last night's victory over Detroit, Washington delivered a satisfying individual and team performance, and for the first time since late last March, it all started with Gilbert Arenas.

Unlike his previous three starts, Arenas began last night with a heat check that would simply not cool.  After his first attempted jumper sank in, he called his own number and went for a pull-up.  Then he received contact and went to the charity stripe where he sank two free throws.  And once Arenas proved his might as the spot-up scorer of yesteryear, he slipped into the lane from a Caron Butler look which ended in a lay-up. 

With 8 points in his pocket, Arenas finished the first quarter in Gilbert Arenas fashion.  With the clock winding down and the score 27-25, Detroit, Arenas expired as much time on the game clock as he could before he launched up a jumper which bounced in to tie the ball game 27-all with nearly no time remaining.  Arenas walked to the bench with 10 points and an assist while the Wizards ended the quarter with a momentum that they would soon need to borrow.

While the Wizards shot well in the first quarter, over 50% from the field as a team, the second quarter was less inviting.  Detroit capitalized on Washington's early shooting woes and climbed on top with a 7-0 run.  Mike Miller broke the slump for Washington with a driving lay-up, which was then augmented by a timely Randy Foye three pointer.  With the Minnesota connection in full steam, reserve JaVale McGee delivered a thunderous slam from a Miller pass, and suddenly Detroit's lead had shrunk to a mere three points.

The Pistons, led by 10 first quarter points from former Wizard Rip Hamilton, would earn key minutes from the reserve combo of guard Will Bynum and forward Jonas Jerebko as the starters began to rest. 

Detroit's combo battled it out with Foye and McGee until the starters returned to end the half.  Arenas scored 2 more points in the final three minutes but would miss a dagger three in the final seconds of the half.

In the third quarter, Arenas found the hot hand he demonstrated in the first, and connected on all five of his jump shot attempts.  At the end of three Arenas had a line of 24 points and 5 assists in just over 27 minutes of play, and he did it on an incredible 9-for-11 from the field.

With the starters out to begin the fourth, Washington entered the final quarter with a comfortable 75-68 lead and the momentum Arenas created with his third quarter push.  However, much like the second quarter slump, Washington grew stagnant to start the fourth, and within three minutes of play the Wizards found themselves walking on a tightrope. 

Washington employed a final line-up of JaVale McGee, Dominic McGuire, Mike Miller, Nick Young, and Mike James to play out the last 8 minutes, a solid defensive team with plenty of scorers.  The Wizards traded buckets with the Pistons' fiery backcourt of Will Bynum and Ben Gordon, as well as with rookie forward Austin Daye.  Washington would break this cycle with about 2:05 left in the game, when Miller sank a huge three pointer to give Washington a 95-91 advantage.  The Wizards played tough defense and sank their free throws down the stretch, two issues in the previous three preseason games which have not gone in Washington's favor, and the Wizards held on for a 101-98 win over the previously undefeated Detroit Pistons team.

Washington will challenge the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET and the contest will air live on Comcast SportsNet.  You can also tune in to 106.7 The Fan if you are not a SportsNet subscriber.

Washington will only host the Cavs once this season, but you never know what April will have in store.  Tonight, Head Coach Flip Saunders and the Wizards get their first batch of tape to watch should Washington battle it out postseason against their on-again, off-again, some-say-they-aren't, others-say-they-must-be, rivals.  Expect high intensity from Washington; there won't be another preseason game until next Monday, when the Wizards challenge the Atlanta Hawks.

[ Last night's Boxscore ] [ Yesterday's Game Notes ] [ Detroit Examiner Dave Ryan's Angle ]

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