Washington Wizards at Minnesota Timberwolves
A nasty knee bruise seems to be the least of Gilbert Arenas’ troubles this holiday season.
The Washington Wizards quirky point guard is the middle of a firearms investigation in which the team says Arenas had weapons in his locker. This is a violation of the NBA’s rules on firearm possession and the league and the franchise is looking into the matter.
Arenas said the only reason the guard brought the guns to the Verizon Center was to keep them away from his children.
"It happened like Dec. 10. Right after my daughter was born," Arenas told ESPN. "I decided I didn't want the guns in my house and around the kids anymore, so I took them to my lockbox at Verizon Center. Then like a week later, I turned them over to team security and told them to hand them over to the police, because I don't want them anymore. I wouldn't have brought them to D.C. had I known the rules. After my daughter was born, I was just like, I don't need these anymore."
Arenas does have a prior weapons charge stemming from an incident in 2003 when he was caught driving with a concealed weapon on a suspended license. He was suspended for the2004-05 season opener after he pled guilty to the chargers.
While a punishment, if any, will likely come later in the week, Arenas’ situation and injury are an extra heaping of distractions while the Wizards try to stay focused after the holiday break.
Pick: Minnesota
Philadelphia 76ers at Utah Jazz (-8, 205)
The Sixers better have enjoyed be home for the holidays because starting Saturday, they hit the road for a five-game swing – opening in Utah.
Philadelphia is struggling, winning just twice in its last 10 games. The 76ers’ most recent defeat was a tough loss to the Washington Wizards this Tuesday in which Philly was outscored 33-19 in the fourth quarter, losing 105-98 as a 2-point underdog. The letdown was so hard, the team cancelled practice Wednesday.
"For me, it was an emotional loss," coach Eddie Jordan told the media. "We talked about the fourth quarter, and I wanted to settle down myself, come in and have a terrific day [Thursday], be a little more even-keel."
It’s been a hectic month for the Sixers. December brought a 2-8 record (3-7 ATS), the return of Allen Iverson and left the team losing nine of their last 10 road contests heading into the weekend. That frustration boiled over during practice this week, where thing got a bit “chippy”, according to guard Lou Williams.
"It depends on the mind-set of the guys," Williams told reporters of the upcoming road swing. "I'm sick of losing. I know a couple of other guys who are sick of losing. We got to get everybody on the same page as far as what we want to accomplish. The season isn't in the wash yet. We still can put some games together and make a run."
