Arenas' sharp shooting leads Wizards over Raptors
Basketball Betting Lines
03/07/2007 - Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison scored 25 points apiece to lead the Washington Wizards to a 129-109 win over the Toronto Raptors.
Caron Butler finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Wizards, who won their third straight game. Antonio Daniels added 18 points off the bench for Washington.
Arenas, who came into the game 8-for-43 on three-point tries over his previous five games, made all five attempts from beyond the arc, on the way to a 9-for-13 shooting night.
Chris Bosh scored 25 points, but had only one rebound for the Raptors, who lost their third straight. T.J. Ford and Juan Dixon scored 14 points each for Toronto, and Jose Calderon added 13 points off the bench.
Arenas caught fire early in the second half, scoring 11 straight Wizards points to extend an already large lead. The Washington star nailed three treys, adding a two-pointer for good measure, with the last three pushing the Wizards lead to 86-64 with 8:25 left in the third quarter. Washington led 101-83 entering the fourth quarter.
The Wizards opened the fourth quarter with eight straight points, and a 14-3 run to stretch their lead to 114-87 with just over seven minutes left.
Two Arenas free throws in the final seconds of the first quarter gave the Wizards a 31-28 lead heading into the second.
The Wizards were able to put some distance between themselves and the Raptors in the second quarter, but an Andrea Bargnani three and a Calderon jumper pulled Toronto within 52-48 with 5:44 left in the half. Washington exploded, though, ripping off a 17-4 run to blow the game open. Arenas made two treys on the run, which Brendan Haywood capped with two free throws to put Washington up 69-52 with 1:35 left.
The Wizards led 71-57 at the half.
Game Notes
Washington dominated on the boards, outrebounding Toronto, 49-27...The Wizards made 10-of-23 three pointers (43 percent). Toronto made only 4-of-14 threes (29 percent).
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Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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