Spurs Expose Wizards' Flaws on 'Bad Night'

Mason, who was second on the Wizards in three-point shooting last season at 39.8 percent, repeatedly spotted up, waited for the ball to reverse and then made the late-arriving Washington defense pay by knocking down a shot.

"We just tried to move the ball from side to side and catch them in rotations," Mason said. "When you have a big like Tim Duncan like we have and a [point guard] like Tony Parker who can create off the dribble, the defense has to be aware and then we have guys who can shoot it if the defense collapses. It's a good mix."

Missing Mason

Mason said his decision to leave Washington and sign a two-year, $7.3 million deal with the Spurs as an unrestricted free agent had nothing to do with the Wizards' roster situation.

The team appeared to be well stocked at guard with Gilbert Arenas supposedly returning from a knee injury along with returning starting shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson and reserves Antonio Daniels and Nick Young, but Mason said that would not have prevented him from staying had the Wizards been able to match or exceed San Antonio's offer.

"I didn't really look at it like that," said Mason, whose role with the Wizards increased last season because of injuries to Arenas and Daniels. "I feel that I would have been able to come in, compete and earn playing time. So, that wasn't really a factor."

Mason has been missed.

"He is what we need," forward Antawn Jamison said. "A veteran who knows how to play the game, a guy who can play multiple positions, knock down big shots, defensively sound. That's a luxury we had last year, that's a luxury we don't have this year."