PHILADELPHIA — Antawn Jamison tied his season-high
with 32 points and had 14 rebounds, Nick Young scored 21 points and the
Washington Wizards overcame an 18-point deficit in a 104-97 victory over the
Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night.
Gilbert Arenas had 19 points and a season-high 14 assists
and Andray Blatche scored 12 for the Wizards (11-21), who snapped a four-game
losing streak.
Andre Iguodala scored 20 points, Samuel Dalembert had
season-highs of 20 points and 20 rebounds and Lou Williams added 19 points for
the Sixers, who were coming off a 3-3 road trip.
A dunk by Dalembert gave the Sixers a 90-86 lead with
5:52 remaining, but the Wizards responded with a 10-0 run — with eight points
coming from Young — to take a 96-90 lead.
After Williams hit a short jumper, Jamison converted a
layup on an assist from Arenas and Caron Butler made an 18-footer for a 100-92
advantage with 2:01 left.
One day after voluntarily meeting with law enforcement
officials to explain why he had guns at the Verizon Center last month, Arenas
was in the starting lineup for the Wizards.
In his statement Monday, Arenas repeated his earlier
assertion that he brought four guns to the Verizon Center to store in his locker
in order to get them out of his house and away from his children. Arenas told
federal authorities that he believed recent changes in D.C. law made it legal
for him to store unloaded guns at the arena.
The New York Post recently reported that Arenas and
teammate Javaris Crittenton drew guns on each other.
Before the game, Wizards coach Flip Saunders called
Arenas legal issue a distraction, and added, "I think right now, we're anxious
to go out and play."
Arenas played in just 15 games the past two seasons
after three operations on his left knee. This season, Arenas has played in all
32 games and entered this game averaging a team-best 22.7 points.
Before the game, the Sixers guaranteed Allen Iverson's
contract for the rest of the season. Iverson, who was signed as a free agent on
Dec. 3, had just four points and five assists in 34 minutes.
Philadelphia is 4-6 with Iverson in the lineup. The
34-year-old also sat out four games with arthritis in his left knee.
The Sixers held an 18-point lead early in the third
quarter, but the Wizards finished with a 30-14 run to get within 80-78 at the
end. Jamison scored 16 points in the quarter. Philadelphia shot 62 percent from
the field in the first half (24-for-39) and took a 58-44 lead at halftime.
Notes
Wizards guard Mike Miller (strained right calf) and center
Brendan Haywood (ill) were late scratches. … The Sixers had 17 assists in the
first half, the most in any half this season. … Washington forward Antawn Jamison
was whistled for a technical foul with 1:41 left in the third quarter. …
Villanova coach Jay Wright attended the game.