Approach Unaffected By Break In Schedule

The Washington Wizards have not had much time to rest since training camp opened in Richmond in early October, so it's understandable that everyone from players to coaches is looking forward to the all-star break, which begins Thursday. However, guard Gilbert Arenas, who will be the team's lone representative in Sunday's All-Star Game, said the team won't allow the looming break to affect its approach to tonight's game against the Hornets in Oklahoma City, or Wednesday's game in Dallas, where the Wizards haven't won since the 2001-02 season.

"You see that with bad teams," Arenas said. "They can't wait to go on vacation. I remember that from my rookie year with Golden State. We were losing and you could hear the vets talking about the break coming. They were counting down the hours. But we have goals. We know how important it is to go into the all-star break on a good note."

Said Coach Eddie Jordan: "Our guys remain hungry. They know where we are as far as maybe we can make some hay this week and keep moving up in the conference standings."

Ticket Exchange

Because of the inclement weather, unused tickets from yesterday's game can be exchanged for upper-level tickets for the Wizards' next home game, Feb. 21 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The game is at 7 p.m. and will be one of six games in which the Wizards will wear throwback jerseys representing the 1972-73 Baltimore Bullets. The Wizards are 0-2 in the throwbacks so far with losses to the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat. The unused tickets from yesterday's game can be exchanged during normal business hours at MCI Center's box office.