The Wizards gallop over the Mavericks

After setting a franchise record last Saturday for consecutive road losses to begin a season with eight, the Washington Wizards returned home on Dec. 4 and defeated last year’s Western Conference champs the Dallas Mavericks.

The Wizards, winners of seven of nine home games, mounted a huge effort to defeat the league’s hottest team who had won 12 straight games before their 106-97 defeat.
“We stayed organized offensively for the most part,” said Coach Eddie Jordan. “We got stops. We held them – the Dallas Mavericks under 40 percent [shooting] and we . . . got out and ran; we got some easy baskets.”

Jumping out to a first quarter eight point lead the Wizards (7-10) played good defensively, shot and distributed the ball well. “We shared the basketball,” Jordan said. The Wizards converted 15-of-21 field goals for 71 percent and held the Mavericks (12-5) to 39 percent. The Wiz outrebounded the Mavericks – 12 to 6 – and dished out more assist, collecting 10 to the Mavericks’ six.

“That was a result of our approach, our attitude, our willingness to share the basketball and play with each other,” explained Jordan.

Maintaining their efficiency through the second quarter by continuing to play up-tempo basketball, the Wizards extended their lead to 18 finishing the first-half 59-41.
“We like to play up and down,” said Wizards’ guard Gilbert Arenas, who lead the team 38-points and eight assist, about their early lead.

Although the Wizards did cool down in the third quarter, shooting just 37 percent, they were able to briefly extend their lead to 31-points before the Mavericks made their run. With 6:24 left in the quarter Jarvis Hayes hit a three-point shot to cap a Wizards 17-4 run, putting the Wizards up by 31.

Entering into the fourth quarter the Wizards held a 21-point lead, but with 2:31 seconds remaining Mavericks’ guard Jason Terry, averaging 14.8 points per game this season, but held to just one point for the game, hit a huge three-point shot to reduce the Mavericks’ deficit to 10. Throughout the arena the hint of apprehension among the fans could be felt. However Arenas answered Terry’s basket, hitting a 22-foot jumper. But with 1:07 remaining Dallas’ All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki, who finished 27-points and nine rebounds, hit another three to reduce the Wizards’ lead to seven. Arenas tried to answer with another jumper, but missed. Antawn Jamison, who scored 20-points, grabbed the rebound, one of his game high 12, and converted a tough basket under the boards to extend the lead back to nine. Nowitzki and Arenas traded a couple of made free-throws to end the game.

Not disappointed about losing the lead, Arenas said, “We knew they were in striking distance. With a team like that that scores 39 [they scored only 31] in a period – you knew they were ready for a run. We were expecting it. We just had to hold on and be strong.”

Each Wizards starters scored in double figures. Centers Etan Thomas and Brendan Haywood combined for 21 of the teams 53 rebounds.