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Bobcats, Wizards face off in divisional battle

Dec 23, 2008 - 11:13 AM Washington (4-21) at Charlotte (9-19), 7:00pm EST

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- A pair of teams that appear destined to battle for position in next summer's lottery square off on the court Tuesday, as the Charlotte Bobcats host the woeful Washington Wizards in a Southeast Division clash.

The Wizards are trying to snap a six-game losing streak, while the Bobcats - whose two-game winning streak ended on Saturday - are trying to avoid another skid like the seven-game stretch they suffered through earlier this month.

Beginning Tuesday in Charlotte, Washington plays five of its next six games on the road, where the club has one victory all season. The Wizards' road woes continued on Sunday in a 97-86 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. They managed to keep it close for three quarters before Jason Kidd engineered a furious fourth-quarter surge to pull out the victory.

The Bobcats, meanwhile, fell on Saturday to the Golden State Warriors. They surrendered 50 points to Warriors guard Jamal Crawford as Golden State controlled the pace of play en route to a 110-103 triumph.

Charlotte is still breaking in the new pieces it brought in earlier this month. Boris Diaw is averaging 16.8 points and 7.8 boards since being acquired from Phoenix. But Raja Bell - who was dealt along with Diaw - has struggled in his new surroundings, connecting on just 32 percent of his shots.