• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Hot-shooting Arenas, Wizards take on young Magic on the road

Nov 6, 2006 - 2:59 PM Washington (1-1) at Orlando (1-2) 7:00 pm EST

ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) -- Gilbert Arenas took over the game for the Washington Wizards in their last contest. On Monday, he hopes to do it against a young Orlando Magic squad.

The Wizards aim for a second straight victory when they face off against the Magic, who have gotten off to a surprisingly slow start.

Arenas scored 16 of his 44 points in the third quarter and provided the decisive basket in the fourth as Washington kept the Boston Celtics winless with a 124-117 victory in their home opener.

The All-Star guard averaged nearly 32 points in four games against the Celtics last season and picked up right where he left off, torturing them with speedy drives and long-range jumpers. Arenas made 14-of-25 shots, including 5-of-10 3-pointers, and 11-of-12 free throws.

Antawn Jamison scored 29 points and Caron Butler added 20 for the Wizards, who shot 52 percent (43-of-82) and committed just 10 turnovers.

Orlando, which was a popular choice as a surprise team to make the playoffs, struggled in a 95-82 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.

Reserve guard Carlos Arroyo was the lone bright spot for the Magic, scoring 22 points on 9-of-9 shooting. Grant Hill added 14 for Orlando, which shot 42 percent (31-of-74).

The Magic, who committed 23 turnovers in each of their first two games, turned the ball over 21 times vs Atlanta.

The home team won all four meetings in the season series between the teams in 2005-06.