Mr. Hibachi
By Marty Gitlin
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
Often when Washington Wizards scoring machine Gilbert Arenas hoists up a shot, he screams out, “Hibachi!”
Well, Mr. Hibachi is hoping to grill the Magic Friday night.
First place in the Southeast Division is at stake in Orlando. The Wizards (22-16) sit a half-game ahead, but healing Miami should prove a major threat the rest of the way.
WagerWeb.com lists Washington as a 4-point underdog, but much will depend on Arenas, who has been a bit schizophrenic recently. He erupted for 51 points Monday in a 114-111 defeat of Utah, then scored just 16 on 4-of-14 shooting in a 99-98 victory Wednesday against New York.
Winning despite an off-night by Arenas, who is averaging 29.9 points a game, should prove heartening. It marked the first time in six games that Washington won when Arenas failed to score 20 points.
Meanwhile, the return of Miami center Shaquille O’Neal from knee surgery has been delayed. He will not travel for a game Friday night in Philadelphia. His earliest comeback would be at home Sunday against Dallas in a rematch of the 2006 NBA Finals.
The Heat are still 2.5-point favorites against the 76ers, according to WagerWeb.com.
“Shaq is working out, feeling good, getting better day to day,” Heat interim coach Ron Rothstein told the Associated Press on Thursday. “That’s it. Case closed.”
NO MATCH IN DALLAS: The Los Angeles Lakers have played well despite injuries to center Kwame Brown and forward Lamar Odom.
But defeating Dallas again? In Dallas?
Forget it.
The Lakers were outscored, 69-44, in the middle quarters Thursday night in a 114-95 loss that avenged the Mavericks’ defeat in Los Angeles. The Mavericks are 33-4 since opening the season 0-4 for the first time in franchise history.
The Lakers were buried at the starting forward spots, where starters Luke Walton and Brian Cook were outscored, 56-17, outrebounded, 21-3, and outassisted, 8-3, by the combination of Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard. The Mavericks enjoyed a 53-28 rebounding advantage for the game.
And for the second game in a row, Kobe Bryant was the lone double-figure scorer among Laker starters with 26 points.
DRIBBLES: Suspended Denver superstar guard Carmelo Anthony has only two games left to serve on his 15-game suspension. He will miss both games this weekend before returning Monday night against visiting Memphis. WagerWeb.com lists the host Nuggets as 1.5-point favorites Friday night against suddenly struggling Cleveland. … How was Portland rewarded for its home victory Wednesday night over the Cavaliers, arguably its best performance of the season? With a game Friday night at Phoenix, winners of 11 in a row. The Blazers are 14.5-point underdogs, according to WagerWeb.com. … Chris Webber is expected to receive more extended minutes for Detroit Friday night in Minnesota. He played just 17 minutes in his Pistons debut. WagerWeb.com lists Webber’s team as a 1.5-point favorite against the Timberwolves.