Team Anticipates Lakers Will Give Their Best Shot

With all of the hype surrounding yesterday's game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, it would be understandable if the Lakers came into tonight's game against the Wizards at MCI Center with tired legs and a lack of motivation. However, Wizards forward Antawn Jamison said he fully expects to get the Lakers' best shot. When the Wizards kicked off a five-game road trip at Los Angeles on Dec. 16, the Lakers overcame a late Wizards push to pull out a 97-91 victory.

"You know it's not going to faze Kobe [Bryant] and the same with Lamar" Odom, Jamison said. "They've been pretty much surrounded by hype all year, every single game. Other than them having to play a back-to-back on the East Coast, I don't think it will be that difficult for them."

Bryant scored 41 points in the game at Los Angeles while Jamison and Gilbert Arenas combined to make 11 of 39 shots for 41 points. The Wizards shot 34.2 percent as a team and were outrebounded 46-31. A costly miscommunication on a late free throw by Arenas allowed Lakers forward Devean George to put the game away with a breakaway layup.

"We didn't play well that game and I didn't play well that game so I really want to find a way to avenge that loss," Jamison said. "We need to have a good game in front of our home crowd and get another win."

Welcome Back, Kwame

Tonight's game will feature the return of former Wizard Kwame Brown, who was booed at MCI Center late last season and will likely receive similar treatment tonight. However, Brown won't get an extra cold reception from Arenas, with whom Brown had differences last season. "We said 'what's up' to each other," Arenas said of the meeting between the teams in Los Angeles. "It's all good."