Nets Block Wizards From First Victory

Carter Rejects Arenas Late; Washington 0-4: Nets 87, Wizards 85

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Nov. 8 -- Eddie Jordan likes to say every day in the NBA is a good day. The Washington Wizards coach also knows that some nights are better than others. Thursday night wasn't one of the better ones.

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Despite building a 20-point first-half lead and playing long stretches with an offensive flow and continuity that had been missing since late last season, the Wizards dropped to 0-4 with an 87-85 loss the New Jersey Nets.

The game wasn't decided until the closing seconds.

After New Jersey's Richard Jefferson made a pair of free throws with 24 seconds remaining, the Wizards inbounded the ball to Gilbert Arenas, who dribbled past half court and tried to do what he's done so often during his time as a Wizard: win or tie a game with a last-second shot.

The problem for Arenas was that the Nets were ready for him. Said Nets guard Jason Kidd: "I think everyone knew that Gilbert was going to try to take the shot."

As the clock ticked below 10 seconds, New Jersey's Antoine Wright and Vince Carter bracketed Arenas, who started left, dribbled back to his right and then found himself forced to the baseline by Carter. He wound up taking a fadeaway three-point attempt that was blocked by Carter.

Arenas, who made a last-second three-pointer to force overtime in the season-opening loss at Indiana, finished with 21 points on 7-of-17 shooting with six assists, but also had six turnovers. Arenas had his left knee drained of excess fluid on Wednesday morning and wound up playing more than 42 minutes. After the game, TNT reported Arenas may have an MRI exam on Saturday and that the player was considering asking Jordan to reduce his playing time.

As he prepared to pack the knee in ice bags for the flight home, Arenas described what he was thinking on the final possession.

"I was going for the winner," said Arenas, who has made six game-winning shots as a Wizard. "I was going to take the three-pointer for the win but when I made my initial move to my left, I should have just stayed left and gone to the basket. Instead I went right and they forced me baseline. I knew Vince was coming and he blocked the shot."

Arenas said there was no foul on the play.

"No," he said. "I was bumped a little going to the baseline but it had no impact on the shot. It was just a bad shot."

Behind Arenas, who made his first three shots, including a pair of three-pointers, Washington jumped to a 37-17 first-half lead while holding the Nets well below 40 percent shooting for most of the game.

However, the Wizards also broke down in key areas and those miscues allowed the Nets (4-1) to escape. The Wizards were particularly thrown off by New Jersey's use of a zone defense for long stretches and late in the game, they failed to locate Bostjan Nachbar, who scored 10 of his 14 points in the final period.

The Wizards led 58-57 after three quarters, but the Nets went ahead early in the fourth on consecutive three-pointers by Nachbar, who had previously been a non-factor.

Antawn Jamison led the Wizards with 24 points and nine rebounds, and Caron Butler finished with 21 points, 7 rebounds and 7 steals. Jefferson (25 points) and Carter (24 points) paced the Nets on a night when Kidd made 2 of 9 shots and scored six points.

"The zone was a game changer for them," Jordan said. "It was a good strategy by them but when you're on the road and you have a chance to win, that's what you want. I thought it was a good job by our guys tonight. We played hard. Very, very hard. Probably the hardest game we played this year or for a long time."

It doesn't get any easier from here for the Wizards, who host Denver on Friday night and play the much-improved Hawks in Atlanta on Sunday afternoon.

Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets were crushed in Boston on Wednesday night and had a full day to get ready for the Wizards while the Hawks (2-2) already own home wins over the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns.

"It's only four games so no panicking," Jamison said. "We're playing hard and tonight we played a lot better than we have. You don't want to start the season 0-4 but it's not a hole. We've let a couple get away and eventually we're going to get it situated."

Wizards Notes: The Nets have won six straight over the Wizards and 14 of the last 15 at home. . . . Center Brendan Haywood finished with two points and three rebounds, failing to post double figures in those categories for the first time this season.