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Arenas, Wizards look to hold on to divison lead

Mar 24, 2007 - 2:13 PM Washington (37-30) at LA Clippers (33-36) 10:30 pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Gilbert Arenas and the Washington Wizards squandered a chance to increase their division lead. Elton Brand and the Los Angeles Clippers appear determined to make the playoffs.

Arenas and the Wizards will conclude their season series with Brand and the Clippers when the teams meet on Saturday.

Washington is coming off a 135-128 loss at Golden State on Friday. Arenas collected 29 points and a season-high 13 assists for the Wizards (37-30), who are one-half game ahead of Miami (37-31) in the Southeast Division.

The Wizards outscored the Warriors, 73-64, in the first half but could not control Golden State star guard Baron Davis' penetration after halftime. Davis finished with 34 points and 15 assists.

Antawn Jamison, who is averaging 23.7 points and 9.3 rebounds in his last six games, added 20 points for Washington. Arenas and Jamison are picking up the slack for injured All-Star Caron Butler, who has missed four straight games with a bruised knee.

With the loss, Washington dropped to 1-2 on its five-game road trip. After this contest, the Wizards will travel to Utah for a game on Monday.

The Clippers rolled to a 104-72 victory over Utah on Friday for their most lopsided win of the season. Brand scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Corey Maggette added 19.

Winners of four of their last five games, the Clippers are one-half game in front of Golden State (33-37) for the eighth spot in the Western Conference.

The Clippers will look to avoid getting swept in the season series by the Wizards for the first time since 2003-04. Arenas had 35 points and 12 assists in Washington's 116-105 victory over Los Angeles on January 5.