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Arenas goes to bank

Washington's Gilbert Arenas lays his jersey on the floor Wednesday as officials review his winning basket. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press The Spokesman-Review
Washington's Gilbert Arenas lays his jersey on the floor Wednesday as officials review his winning basket. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

SEATTLE – Gilbert Arenas capped his 42-point night by banking in a right-handed runner as time expired to give the Washington Wizards a 108-106 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics on Wednesday night.

Arenas crossed over Earl Watson, drove with his left hand, then switched to his right and scooped up the runner past Seattle’s Rashard Lewis and Chris Wilcox. Arenas then jogged to midcourt, circled around and stripped off his jersey, dropping it at the free-throw line on his way to the locker room.

Washington kept its slim lead over Miami in the Southeast Division, but it wasn’t easy against the short-handed Sonics, who played without All-Star Ray Allen.

Arenas rebounded from a poor shooting performance on Tuesday night in Portland, and atoned for a missed reverse layup with less than a minute remaining that would have given Washington the lead.

Arenas made 13 of 24 shots, including six 3-pointers, and topped the 40-point mark for the ninth time this season.

Wilcox led Seattle with 27 points and 22 rebounds, but the Sonics lost for the 19th time this season by six or fewer points.

Seattle made a strong effort without Allen, its leading scorer at 26.4 points, who sat out with pain and discomfort from bone spurs in his left ankle. Allen is considering season-ending surgery.

Washington’s tendency this season has been to let down when facing teams without their stars. The Wizards previously lost to Miami without Dwyane Wade, Atlanta without Joe Johnson and the Hornets without Chris Paul.

Allen’s replacement, Damien Wilkins, pulled Seattle within 100-99 on a 3-pointer with 2:50 left. After Antonio Daniels missed, the Sonics went to work on the offensive boards, with both Wilcox and Lewis pulling away rebounds in a crowd after a pair of misses. Lewis finally banked in a turnaround 10-footer to give the Sonics a 101-100 lead.

Antawn Jamison quickly answered with an open 3-pointer, but Lewis hit one of his own for a 104-103 Seattle lead. Arenas missed a reverse layup, but Luke Ridnour couldn’t capitalize, missing a 20-footer.

Daniels sprinted past Ridnour and was fouled, hitting both free throws for a 105-104 lead.

Seattle went quickly on its next possession. Lewis drove, and as he tried a scoop, Michael Ruffin blocked the shot out of bounds off of Lewis with 14 seconds left.

Washington inbounded the ball to Darius Songaila, who was fouled, and split the free throws for a 106-104 edge. After a timeout, Seattle used the same play again with Lewis driving. This time, Daniels tried to slide in but was called for a blocking foul, and Lewis swished both free throws.

Arenas calmly dribbled upcourt before beginning his drive with 4 seconds left.

Wilcox posted just the second 20-20 game for Seattle since 1995. Wilcox went for 26 points and 24 rebounds against Houston on April, 4, 2006.