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Wizards return home hoping to improve playoff position

Apr 2, 2008 - 2:33 PM Milwaukee (25-48) at Washington (38-36) 7:00 pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) - After a five-game road trip, the Washington Wizards return to the Verizon Center to host the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.

Washington went 2-3 on its West Coast swing, but dropped the last two games at the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz.

The Wizards are tied with Toronto (38-36) for fifth place in the Eastern Conference, but are just one-half game ahead of seventh place Philadelphia (38-37).

Still without Gilbert Arenas, the Wizards played without All-Star Caron Butler (left hamstring) in Monday's 129-87 loss to Utah.

Antawn Jamison scored 22 points to lead Washington, which trailed by 32 points at the break.

The Bucks snapped a four-game losing streak with Tuesday's 119-115 overtime victory over the New York Knicks, but Milwaukee will miss the playoffs for the second straight season.

Michael Redd had his second 30-point game with 36 points and Andrew Bogut added 24 and 13 rebounds for Milwaukee, which won for just the second time in its last 12 games.

Washington has won two of the first three meetings between the teams this season.