Gilbert Arenas has been sidelined since mid-November with an injury. Pablo M. Monsivais/ASSOCIATED PRESS Visit the Photo Place

Arenas' return coming soon

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Wizards' Gilbert Arenas' return coming soon

Date published: 3/21/2008

BY ADAM HIMMELSBACH

WASHINGTON--On Monday night, Gilbert Arenas stood at his locker and was noncommittal about his chances of playing again this season.

The Wizards point guard has been sidelined since undergoing knee surgery in mid-November, and he began full-contact practices about two weeks ago.

On Monday, Arenas did not dismiss the possibility of returning for Washington's game against Orlando on Wednesday.

But that game came and went without Arenas.

Arenas also did not dismiss the possibility of sitting out the rest of this year.

He is expected to opt out of his contract at season's end, and if he returned and suffered another injury it would hurt him financially.

But Wednesday in Orlando, Arenas changed his tune once again.

"I'll be back way before the playoffs," Arenas told reporters prior to the Wizards' game against the Magic. "Hopefully, within this week I'll be playing or maybe on that West Coast road trip."

Arenas has played eight games this season and is averaging 22.4 points and 5.9 assists.

"The process is to pick things up a notch and see how it goes," Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said. "It's killing him not to play. Once he and the doctors are assured that he's ready to compete in the NBA, then that's when we'll go."

GIVE THEM A HAND

Arenas isn't the only Wizard dealing with an injury.

Forward Caron Butler and guard Antonio Daniels are both dealing with left wrist pain.

"It's a big issue for both Antonio and Caron," Jordan said. "As far as being a big-time player, they use their left hands, and you can see right now it's just really hard for them to go left."

Butler, who recently returned after missing 16 consecutive games with a hip injury, left the locker room Monday with his left hand in a brace.

"It's just one of those things," Butler said. "It's not bad enough to need surgery."

Butler suffered the injury when he fell to the ground in a game against Cleveland on March 13.

Daniels suffered his wrist injury when his hand was caught in an opponent's jersey.

He played against Orlando on Wednesday with his left hand wrapped in medical tape.

"You just have to play through it," Daniels said. "Especially during this time of year."

HEATING UP IN MIAMI

The Wizards will visit the Miami Heat tonight. Washington has won its first two meetings against Miami this season.

And this Heat team looks nothing like the team that won the NBA title two years ago.

Shaquille O'Neal has been traded to the Phoenix Suns. Dwyane Wade is out for the year with an injury.

With a victory, Washington would improve to 7-0 on the road against divisional opponents.

Adam Himmelsbach: 540/374-5442
Email: ahimmelsbach@freelancestar.com

Date published: 3/21/2008