Written by Rich Swerbinsky

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Arenas. Jamison Key Win For Surging Wizards

A clearly inspired Gilbert Arenas was simply too much for the Cavaliers last night, as they fell to the Wizards 101-89 at the MCI Center.  The win was the sixth straight at home for Washington, who all of the sudden finds themselves at 25-23 and just 3.5 games behind the Cavs for the race for the #4 seed in the East.

Arenas found out on his way to the arena that he had been announced as a reserve to the All-Star game, after not making the initial team.  Arenas will replace the injured Jermaine O’Neal, and was selected by NBA commissioner David Stern.  He played with a chip on his shoulder all night, seemingly still looking to prove that his initial omission was unwarranted.  Arenas is the NBA’s fourth leading scorer at over 28 points per game.

Arenas ended with 32 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists.  He was aided in a big way by Antawn Jamison, who finished with 28 points … including two huge three pointers late, as well as a conversion of all three free throws after being fouled on another long range attempt in the final stanza.

The Cavs were hurt by a poor shooting night from LeBron James, as well as the ejection of Zydrunas Ilgauskas with nine minutes left, and the team down just five points.

James made just 6 of 23 shots from the field, as the Wizards packed it inside and pinched the driving lanes all night, forcing James to settle for jump shots.  LeBron simply didn’t have the touch from outside on this night.

Ilgauskas was ejected after a game long tussle with Brendan Haywood turned ugly early in the fourth quarter.  The pair were given double technicals after some pushing and shoving, which was immediately followed up by a hard foul by Haywood, then another by Ilgauskas.  Ilgauskas argued that last call aggressively, was given another technical and ejected.  The Cavs were down five at the time, and failed to menace the rest of the way.

The loss dropped the Cavaliers to 29-20.  The team traveled back home last night, and hosts the Golden State Warriors tonight at The Q.