WASHINGTON, DC – Given the way their workday started, no one could have blamed the Wizards players if they were too distracted to close out a win against the visiting Philadelphia 76ers and their former head coach Eddie Jordan.

 

Tuesday’s contest was going to be a little bit different anyway, what with Jordan returning to the District on the opposing sideline exactly one year to the day since he was relieved of his duties as coach of his hometown team.

Plus, Washington was missing two starters – shooting guard Mike Miller and small forward Caron Butler and rumors of bad-blood brewing between the players all combined to make for an interesting evening at the Phone Booth.

The storyline shifted abruptly though as the players arrived at the arena to news that team owner Abe Pollin, 85, had passed away after a lengthy battle with a rare neurological disease just hours before tip off.

“It was a hard evening,” Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas said after the team held on for a close 108-107 victory, “At the end of the day we know that Abe Pollin loved us so much that we couldn’t feel the pain until after the game.  We had to go out there and just play.  He didn’t want us to stop.”

And they didn’t stop.  Despite seeing a fourteen point lead evaporate after a fourth quarter explosion keyed by Sixers guards Louis Williams and rookie reserve Jrue Holliday, the Wizards gathered themselves and capped off an inspired offensive effort by getting a key defensive stop to end the contest.

Following a Washington turnover, Philadelphia appeared to be primed to pull off the comeback.  Trailing by one with time expiring Williams was able to get a look at the basket for a three point attempt that Arenas defended fairly well.  The shot looked like it might have been good until it reached the basket and clanged hard off of the back of the rim before settling in the hands of Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson as time expired.

“We put a lot into the game because Caron and Mike weren’t able to play and a lot of guys stepped up,” head coach Flip Saunders said after the contest, “It was an emotional game and Mr. Pollin contested that last shot better than anybody.”

Arenas never dominated the contest, but played efficiently, finishing with 17 points and eight assists.  Saunders received stellar efforts from his young players suddenly thrust into larger roles.  Nick Young earned his first start of the season, just one game after appearing on the inactive list, and scored 20 points on 50 percent shooting.  Forward Andray Blatche continued his development by providing a scoring and rebounding punch off of the bench (14 points, 5 rebounds) and center JaVale McGee made the most of his minutes, blocking a career high six shots, hauling in four rebounds and scoring four points in just over 14 minutes of play.

It was probably fitting that the Wizard who most helped his team would be one who from all accounts had been a favorite of Mr. Pollin’s.

Antawn Jamison, who Pollin compared with former Bullets forward Wes Unseld with whom he had a special relationship, finished the night by posting yet another double double.  Jamison scored 32 points and pulled in 14 rebounds on a night where just putting on his shorts must have seemed like a chore.

“It was tough,” an emotional Jamison said after the game, “It shocked me more than anything else because I got the news five minutes before I pulled into the arena.”

“He’s a fighter and he’s done so much not only for this organization but for my family.  He loved this team.  It was tough for us but we knew Mr. Pollin would want us to come out here and play hard and find a way to get it done.  We were fortunate to do that tonight.”