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Magic @ Wizards Thread; 12/29, 7:00 PM, Verizon Center
Topic Started: Dec 29 2006, 11:32 AM (1,560 Views)
MAGICMANEVAN
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Orlando (17-13) at Washington (16-12)
Magic - 2nd Southeast, 6th East :no:
Wizards - 1st Southeast, 3rd East :no:

What: Regular Season Game #31
Where: Verizon Center, Washington
When: December 29, 7:00 PM
Broadcast: TV -- My 65, Radio -- AM 580 WDBO


The Washington Wizards and the Orlando Magic have been heading in completely different directions since the start of December.

The Wizards look to extend their season-best winning streak to five games, while the Magic try to avoid losing a season-high fourth straight when the teams meet at the Verizon Center on Friday.

Washington (16-12) finished November with a 5-9 record, while Orlando (17-13) led the Southeast Division at 12-4. The month of December has been a turnaround for both teams, though, as the Magic are 5-9 while the Wizards have gone 11-3 to move percentage points ahead of Orlando for the division lead.

A major reason for Washington's surge has been the play of Gilbert Arenas, who has scored 30 or more points in five of the past six games, but struggled in the Wizards' 106-103 loss to the Magic on Nov. 6.

Arenas finished with 24 points on just 6-of-20 shooting in that matchup, and missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer on Washington's final possession.

He is averaging 21.8 points on 27.7 percent shooting, including 7-of-26 (26.9 percent) from 3-point range, in his last four games against Orlando. However, he has been outstanding for the Wizards lately.

Arenas had 39 points on 10-of-19 shooting, including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc, in Washington's 114-107 victory over Charlotte on Wednesday.

The two-time All-Star is averaging 38.5 points and has made 19-of-35 from 3-point range (54.3 percent) during the Wizards' four-game win streak. That stretch doesn't even include his franchise-record 60-point effort in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 17.

Caron Butler added 25 points on Wednesday and Antawn Jamison had 17 as Washington became the first team since Phoenix in the 1994-95 season to score at least 106 points in 12 consecutive games. That Suns team did in 14 straight.

The Wizards are averaging 118.5 points in their last 12, and are the third-highest scoring team in the league (107.8 ppg) behind Phoenix and Denver.

"We're a scoring team. Just like Phoenix we try to score so much and so fast, everyone is going to have opportunities to score," said Arenas, who also had six rebounds and eight assists against the Bobcats and was 14-of-16 from the free throw line.

Washington has won six of seven at the Verizon Center, and is 9-2 at home when scoring at least 100 points.

The Magic have lost three straight road games, averaging just 84.0 points.

Orlando fell to the Lakers 106-93 on Wednesday for its third straight loss and eighth in 11 games.

"We're just not playing very good basketball right now," Magic coach Brian Hill said. "We're just not playing very sharp or very confidently offensively, which I don't know the answer to, but it's something we have to correct and get out of the funk and work a little bit harder."

Dwight Howard had 12 points against the Lakers, and is averaging 13.1 points on 45.7 percent shooting in his last eight games. Howard averaged 18.1 points on 61.0 percent shooting in his first 22 games.

"We know we're going to have these stretches. The main thing is not losing focus on sight of what we are trying to accomplish as a team," said Howard, who was held to seven points against the Wizards earlier this season. "We just have to keep playing. Hard work works itself out in the end, so we just have to keep playing."


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Orlando Notes

Dec 23 The Magic's record is now 17-11 with a loss against Golden State. Orlando is 3-5 when the game is decided by six to 10 points. ... F Trevor Ariza scored a career-high 23 points. His previous career high was 21 on January 25, 2006 vs. Phoenix. ... F-C Dwight Howard recorded his 20th double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Howard had 60 double-doubles last season and now has 112 double-doubles for his career.



Washington Notes

Dec 23 The Wizards' 144-139 overtime victory over the Phoenix Suns on Friday snapped the Suns' 15-game winning streak. Washington has stopped the two longest winning streaks in the NBA this season. The Wizards also halted Dallas' 12-game run December 4. ... Washington finished its four-game west-coast road trip with a 3-1 record. ... Washington has scored 100 points or more in its last seven games. ... During the Wizards' four-game road trip, G Gilbert Arenas averaged 41.8 points. Arenas has scored 40 or more points in a game six times this season and 25 in his career. His 54 points against the Suns is the second most ever by an individual player against the Suns. Wilt Chamberlain scored 66 in a game during the 1968-69 season. ... F Caron Butler scored a season-high 34 points in the victory Friday, one shy of his career high.
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Punisher
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I have now low expectations for this team so I don't see them ending the losing streak. Hopefully i'm wrong.
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Magic.Man
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I see this as a blowout.
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dhoward541524
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Love_Is_The_Movement
another loss due to stupid Brian hill substituting mistakes??????? could be!!!!!!!!!! FREE DEINER!!!!!!
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magiclive
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It's amazing how far we've fallen so fast. I'm always hopeful that we can win each game, but I've lost that feeling that we can beat anyone in the league.
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MAGICMANEVAN
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Yeah were not even leading our division anymore. Dwight needs to step up and get his a** in gear...
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ec23456
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Stretch the "D" and put Diener & Redick in @ Point Guard & Shooting Guard & move Hill to SF & Turk to PF & D12 to Center
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ec23456
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It mabe low expections for awhile tonight I just hope Orlando can comeback in the 2nd half. If they don't have the lead.
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DarkoWatcher
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Any free audio/video links?
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Punisher
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We really need this one. This will be the fight for sole possesion of first place on our division.
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Punisher
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DarkoWatcher
Dec. 29 2006 06:52 PM
Any free audio/video links?

Nop sorry :(
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Punisher
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Hedo for 3! Magic up 5-4
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Punisher
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Hedo again for 3!
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Punisher
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Hedo is on fire tonight.
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Magic.Man
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Hedo is doin his thang from 3 point land!
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