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Arenas, Jamison help Wizards pound Raptors

Mar 7, 2007 - 4:46 AM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas started out cold, then he warmed up.

Arenas scored 25 points and Antawn Jamison also had 25 as the Wizards posted a 129-109 blowout over the Toronto Raptors.

Reserve Antonio Daniels had 18 points and Caron Butler added 12 and 12 rebounds for Washington, which has won three in a row and six straight here vs. Toronto.

"For 48 minutes, from beginning to the end, we had a really good attitude and approach to the game," Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said. "We had chemistry, togetherness, and a comfort level. ... and we did not get too high or too low. We did a lot of good things out there."

Arenas started 1-of-5 before drilling his next eight shots to help the Wizards open a 101-83 advantage entering the final quarter.

"Gilbert didn't force anything all night," Daniels said. "He got everybody involved early on and it was contagious through the team. You could see that throughout the game."

Arenas finished 9-of-13 from the field, including 5-of-5 from 3-point range.

The three-time All-Star had eight points in the second period and had help from Daniels (15 points) and Jamison (eight) as the Wizards posted 40 in the quarter, their second-highest scoring period of the season.

"The guys did a great job as far as moving with and without the ball," Jamison said. "We were finding open guys, and that is pretty much what we like to do."

"We have a goal that we are trying to get to and we cannot lose games like this anymore," Arenas added.

Washington's highest-scoring quarter (41 points) came in the fourth quarter against Toronto on January 7.

The Wizards (34-25) are three games ahead of the Raptors (32-29) in the Eastern Conference playoff race and continue to lead the Miami Heat by four games in the Southeast Division.

Two-time All-Star Chris Bosh scored 25 points on 8-of-14 shooting but grabbed a season-low one rebound for the Raptors, who have lost three straight and were crushed on the boards, 49-27.

"With our guys, it's never been a question about effort, Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said. "We just didn't get it done. They beat us on the glass and when you look at the stat sheet we fouled too much tonight."

"We just have to be more aggressive," Bosh said. "You have to block your man out, and take the challenge of keeping the guy in front of you, giving him one shot."

Juan Dixon and T.J. Ford each had 14 points for Toronto, which allowed a season high in points for the the second consecutive game.

"There's still a positive attitude in the locker room and it's just a matter of turning it around," Ford said. "A win would definitely make things a lot better. We've got tomorrow to do that."