In the Final Seconds, Wizards Miss Arenas

Another reminder that the Washington Wizards miss three-time all-star Gilbert Arenas came in the closing seconds of Saturday night's 92-89 home loss to Charlotte. Trailing by one with three seconds to play, the Wizards had time for a game-winning shot, but second-year guard Nick Young missed a midrange jumper.

On Dec. 5 against the Lakers, Caron Butler missed a potential game-winning three-pointer in a 106-104 loss. Arenas thrived in such situations. His most memorable shot was the game-winning jumper he made to win Game 5 of the team's first-round playoff series against Chicago in 2005.

In all, Arenas has won 10 games with a last-second shot or free throws as a Wizard, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer that beat tonight's opponent, Milwaukee, in 2007.

Young has flashed the skills and shooting touch to be that kind of player but he has yet to connect on his first NBA game-winner.

"I felt it was going in," he said of his final shot Saturday night. "I was trying to do something with it and just came up short."

BUCKS UP NEXT: Milwaukee (18-21) is 5-5 in its last 10 games but is coming off a crushing loss Saturday night at Minnesota. The Bucks led by 13 in the second half but fell apart and lost, 106-104, to the 11-25 Timberwolves.

Like the Wizards, the Bucks have struggled down the stretch of close games.

"We didn't do the things we needed to do," forward Richard Jefferson told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "Did we give one away? That's an understatement. The last five minutes was a joke, including myself."

Up Next Wednesday at Knicks 7:30 p.m. Comcast SportsNet Plus, WTEM-980 Friday vs. Knicks 7 p.m. Comcast SportsNet Plus, WTEM-980