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Arenas hits 3-pointer at buzzer in Wizards' victory

Jan 4, 2007 - 4:35 AM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Gilbert Arenas was the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December. His is off to a great start in January.

Arenas scored 32 points, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer, and Caron Butler added 29 to lead the Washington Wizards to a 108-105 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

After averaging a league-best 34.1 points to help Washington post a 12-4 record in December, Arenas rebounded from a 19-point effort on 7-of-22 shooting in Saturday's 119-102 defeat to the Bucks.

"We knew it was going to be a hard-fought game," Arenas said. "We had three days off and three days to prepare. ... We knew it was going to be a close game, but we just wanted to be the team to finish the game with a win."

Charlie Bell missed a pair of shots from the arc for Milwaukee in the final minute of the fourth quarter before Arenas raced across the mid-court line in the waning seconds and calmly sank a 30-footer at the buzzer.

"I realized once (Antawn Jamison) got the rebound and gave it to me, there (were) six seconds left in the game," Arenas said. "There was no point in trying to beat the defense up court."

"He times it right, he gets himself in position, and then it was just the flick of the wrist," Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said. "He is amazing. He is a terrific scorer and he has great timing and a good feel."

The game was tied, 101-101, when Butler and Jamison hit jumpers to give the Wizards a four-point lead with 1:44 remaining.

"To play the way we have been playing of late really says a lot about this team," Jamison said. "We have found a way to win games and put a couple of streaks together. This is a team that has really matured and we have great chemistry together."

Michael Redd followed with a pair of free throws with 1:29 left and added a layup 15 seconds later to even the game at 105-105.

"There's a point where you hate to lose in that manner," Redd said. "Give Gilbert all the credit in the world. He made a tremendous shot. You knew he was going to pull it deep. ... And as soon as it left his hand, I knew it was good."

Mo Williams scored Milwaukee's first 12 points of the third quarter, including a 3-pointer and a three-point play, and finished the period with 16 to help give the Bucks an 82-78 lead.

Butler hit all nine shots in the first half and finished 13-of-17 and Jamison scored 22 points for the Wizards, who reached the 100-point mark for the 15th straight game.

"My teammates helped me find my rhythm and I got a lot of opportunity out there," Butler said. "Coach put me in position to do what I do best. It was an exciting night and a great win for us."

Redd scored 27 points and Williams added 24 for Milwaukee, which lost for just the second time in nine contests.

"Tough shooting night," said Bell, who made 6-of-17 shots and scored 14 points. "It wasn't falling. They switched to the new ball and it's going to take some getting used to. We missed some shots that we normally make and made some turnovers that we probably wouldn't normally make."