James clutch as Wizards escape Sixers

October 21, 1:34 PMWashington Wizards ExaminerGeorge Panagakos

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Green (#33) barely glanced James on the elbow to send him to
the line late in the fourth quarter.  In fact, Sixers fans booed for a
short while after the game was over, and I can't blame them.  Tell
a Philly fan the preseason doesn't matter, I dare you.
(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

The Washington Wizards challenged a familiar Philadelphia 76ers team last night and escaped with a 90-89 win after a couple clutch free throws from Mike James and a left-handed free throw that wasn't clutch at all but gave his teammates some hearty smiles.

With around a minute left to go in the game, the score 86-84, Wizards, Sixers guard Louis Williams drove the lane and found contact from JaVale McGee.  Williams finessed a lay-up while in the air and a free throw opportunity would await him when he landed.  Williams, a career 77.3% free throw shooter, would miss the free throw yet rebound his own miss, and his first board of the night led to a two-point put back by teammate Marreese Speights. 

Washington called a time out, the score 88-86, Philly, with 43.8 seconds left on the game clock.  The Wizards drew up a plan for Nick Young, who joined McGee, Andray Blatche, Dominic McGuire, and Mike James on the court.  The plan was to take some time off but allow enough time as to get the last shot of the game, and Washington executed the plan perfectly as Blatche found Young off of motion for an open jumper to tie the game up 88-all, 31.9 seconds left to play and a fresh 24 seconds for Philadelphia.

The Sixers chose not to call a timeout and drove down the court in an attempt to take away as much time as they could on the game clock.  Scorer Williams was chosen once again for Philly, but this time his driving lay-up met a ready McGee.  The missed shot ended up in McGee's hands and the Wizards all but earned the win.  However, perhaps to keep things interesting, the second-year reserve center decided to run down the court as a one-man fast break rather than slow things down and milk the remaining 19.8 seconds.  McGee put on his thrusters and attempted a wild finger roll, received contact with no call and the Sixers received possession with around 14.5 seconds left. 

After a time out, Philadelphia had one more shot at the game.  The ball ended up in the hands of guard Willie Green, who baited Nick Young with a pump fake (see gallery below) and earned himself two shots at the free throw line with only 1 second left.  However, Green only knocked down 1-of-2, and with the score 89-88, Philadelphia, the Wizards would have an opportunity to take the ball in from half court and launch a desperation three.  That launcher would end up being Mike James, and in some odd chance of fate James was fouled by Green while behind the three point line, earning James three free throw opportunities. 

James, already 4-for-4 from the line earlier in the first half, sank his first two shots without breaking a sweat.  For his third, he decided to use his off hand, being his left, and instead of hitting the rim to start the clock and expire the 0.3 seconds left in the game, James missed the basket entirely and the ball glided out of bounds, giving Philly a final chance for a Derek Fisher.  Instead, Philly went for a halfcourt lob to the basket that was disrupted by Washington to end the game, 90-89, Wizards.

Last night's game was the most Wizards-dominated game of their preseason.  They disallowed a single 30 point quarter, something they hadn't been able to do in the past 5 games, and until the fourth quarter Washington appeared to have an easy win on their hands. 

While the second unit can be blamed for the Wizards fourth quarter letdown, in the spirit of preseason basketball I am going to label this one as "non-issue."  Gilbert Arenas and Mike Miller were once again DNP, in fact, they were down in Washington during the game, however Antawn Jamison is still traveling with the team and during a game break he was interviewed.  Jamison said his arm feels good and that he is lifting weights, promising news for the Wizards and Wizards fans alike.

After the game, Comcast SportsNet's "SportsNite" program highlighted Brendan Haywood and Nick Young in a little game of Madden 2010.  Haywood, who is known as the "King of Madden" in Wizards land, devastated Young 50-8 as Haywood's San Diego Chargers went New England Patriots on Young's Cincinnati Bengals.



Washington, now 4-3 after offing Eddie Jordan's Sixers, has one more preseason game to go this Friday as the Wizards challenge the Chicago Bulls.  Speaking of the Bulls, if you didn't catch President Barack Obama on The Late Show with David Letterman late last September you can catch a replay of the show tomorrow night at 11:37 p.m. ET, while First Lady Michelle Obama will appear on a new episode of The Jay Leno this Friday at 10:00 p.m. ET.

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