Wizards Fall In Preseason Home Opener

Despite shooting 53% from the field, and out-rebounding the Dallas Mavericks 45-39, the Washington Wizards were unable to overcome the Dallas Mavericks, falling 123-115. In the loss, the Washington Wizards were led by Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler who both scored 19 points. Gilbert Arenas added 12 points and nine assists in 21 minutes of action.

“We shot well. We scored a lot of points," said Head Coach Flip Saunders. "I don’t think this team is going to have a problem with those guys that score. It’s just that they’re going to have to keep on building as far as our defense. That’s going to be our area. At times we were undisciplined more defensively than we were offensively. It wasn’t because of lack of effort. “

Playing in front of their home fans for the first time in six months, the Wizards started off strong beginning the game on a 9-2 run led by Butler who dropped in seven points on his way to 14 points in the quarter. While the Wizards started fast, it was the Mavericks who took control late in the quarter thanks to the play of Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion who combined for 17 points as Dallas took a 33-26 lead after one quarter of play.

After a high scoring first quarter, the two teams continued to stay hot from the field in the second with the Wizards shooting 55% from the field compared to the Mavericks 52%. Jamison and Blatche led the offensive assault in the second, each scoring six points. The high scoring second came to an end with the Mavericks taking a 65-56 lead into the half.

Following a first quarter where he elected to play facilitator rather than scorer, Arenas came out in attack mode in the third quarter, scoring 12 points on 6 of 6 shooting from the field including an incredible driving lay-up where Arenas knifed through multiple Dallas defenders.

“When he is attacking it’s hard to guard him," said DeShawn Stevenson on Arenas. "We just need more of that before the regular season comes…him being aggressive.”

Arenas' offensive repertoire helped the Wizards shoot 65% from the field in the third, however, Washington was undone by seven turnovers and a Dallas offense which scored 38-points, 13 coming from the line, giving the visitors a 103-86 lead heading into the fourth.

As they did on Tuesday, the Wizards second unit tried to bring the team back in the fourth, starting the quarter on a 13-3 run to cut the deficit to 106-99. The charge was led by a defensive change where the Wizards went to a match-up zone. The comeback bid fell short, though as Dallas was able to come through with several key shots down the stretch to hold on for the eight-point win.

“It is a learning process," said Andray Blatche. "We are all starting to get the flow and learn the feel of it in the preseason games. We are learning how to play together and get a feel for each other. Everything is starting to come into place.”

The Wizards will look to get back on the winning track on Sunday when they take on the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre.

NOTES: Brendan Haywood sprained his right ankle in the first quarter and is listed as day-to-day.