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Arenas sets franchise record as Wizards escape

Dec 18, 2006 - 8:17 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Gilbert Arenas couldn't be stopped during the extra session.

Arenas scored a career-high and franchise-record 60 points as the Washington Wizards survived a thrilling 147-141 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, who wasted 45 points from Kobe Bryant.

Former Laker Caron Butler scored 27 points and Antawn Jamison followed with 25, including five 3-pointers, for the Wizards, who won their third straight game and got off to a good start on their four-game road trip.

Arenas, who made 17-of-32 shots and collected eight rebounds and eight assists, netted 13 consecutive points for Washington in the extra session.

"It feels better when you do it with in the team system...within the flow," Arenas said. "I never really thought I would take that many shots to hit 60 points. You know it wasn't a plan. But since I did it it feels great."

"Arenas was spectacular in tonight's game," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "He made a lot of different types of shots...drives, 3-pointers and still had the energy to finish that game off."

The 6-4 guard blew by Bryant, who had five fouls, for a layup and a 136-135 edge with 1:53 left.

"I'm not going to get a sixth foul," Bryant said. "That doesn't make any sense. We just had to pack in the lanes and when he (Arenas) did get to the basket he challenged our big guys and got to the free-throw line."

After an empty possession by the Lakers, Arenas went backdoor on Bryant, converting a layup an ensuing free throw and extending the margin to four with 75 seconds remaining.

Arenas added a 3-pointer with 57 ticks left to keep Los Angeles at bay, sealing Washington's fourth win over the Lakers in the last five meetings.

"That's what he (Arenas) does," Butler said. "He makes big shots, big plays and he was incredible tonight. He came back home, played his game and he wasn't forcing anything. He just had a hot hand."

A Los Angeles native, Arenas eclipsed Earl Monroe's franchise mark of 56 points set against the Lakers on February 13, 1968. Arenas' previous career best for points was 47.

"Gilbert was great," Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said. "Everybody executed their roles, even though they knew Gilbert was rolling. That's where this team is, they understand that Gilbert was going to carry us. We have forwards who can pretty much get the job done. But when Gilbert was rolling you have to let him have it."

Vladimir Radmanovic scored a season-high 27 points and Luke Walton added 15, a career-high 11 assists and eight boards for Los Angeles, which rallied from a double-digit deficit to beat Houston in double overtime Friday. In that contest, Bryant recorded his season high of 53 points.

The Lakers trailed by double digits in regulation for most of the way. They continued to chip away until finally drawing even on a 3-pointer by Brian Cook over the outstretched arms of Arenas with 5.7 seconds left.

"I just let it fly and I felt it was going to go in," said Cook, who had five points. "Every time I shoot the basketball I think it is going in so I just let it fly and it went in."

Bryant, who finished with 10 assists and eight rebounds, found Cook after being double-teamed.

On the ensuing possession, Arenas missed the potential game-winning jumper as time expired.