In the span of a few hours, the Washington Wizards lost their leading scorer, their on-court leader and maybe their season.
Taking the court in Cleveland only hours after star guard Gilbert Arenas was suspended indefinitely by pitiless NBA commissioner David Stern, the Wizards were beaten 121-98 by the Cavaliers last night, a possible preview of darker days ahead for Washington.
“It’s like a black cloud over us,” guard DeShawn Stevenson said. “Hit us over the head again and we might break.”
LeBron James piled up 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in just three quarters, and Shaquille O’Neal added 17 points in 17 minutes as the Cavaliers took no mercy on the Wizards and posted a season high for points to win for the 13th time in 15 games.
Washington ended a long, draining day with a lopsided loss.
Arenas was suspended by Stern, who in a scathing statement called the gregarious guard’s recent behavior “not currently fit to take the court.”
Stern handed down his stiff sentence on Arenas while the three-time All-Star is being investigated by federal and local authorities after admittedly bringing unloaded guns to Washington’s locker room.
Arenas’ problems began after an alleged dispute over card-playing gambling debts and a heated discussion in the locker room with teammate Javaris Crittenton. The New York Post reported that the two drew weapons on each other. Arenas said in a statement that he took unloaded guns from his locker in a “misguided effort to play a joke” on a teammate.
The Wizards don’t find any of it funny now.
“This situation has put the whole organization in a bad light,” Jamison said. “It’s sad, but this is not what we are. It’s a bad decision on two people and we have to pay for it.”
Suns 118, Rockets 110 - Steve Nash scored 26 points and had 12 assists, Amare Stoudemire added 25 points and 11 rebounds, and host Phoenix squandered a 16-point lead before rallying from a 16-point deficit to beat Houston.
Spurs 112, Pistons 92 - Tony Parker and Roger Mason Jr. keyed a decisive run in the fourth quarter as host San Antonio sent Detroit to its 11th consecutive loss.
Hawks 119, Nets 89 - Jamal Crawford scored 29 points and host Atlanta used one of their best shooting nights of the season to end a four-game losing streak and beat struggling New Jersey.
Hornets 97, Thunder 92 - David West scored 19 points, Chris Paul had 14 points and 13 assists and visiting New Orleans moved above .500 for the first time this season by defeating Oklahoma City.
Warriors 107, Timberwolves 100 - In Minneapolis, Monta Ellis had 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists in 38 minutes as Golden State snapped an eight-game road losing streak with a victory over Minnesota.
In other games, the Toronto Raptors beat the Magic, 108-103, in Orlando; and the Utah Jazz tuned up on the Memphis Grizzlies, 117-94, in Salt Lake City.
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