Andray Blatche News

The Southeast Division-leading Miami Heat shoot for their third straight victory tonight, when they continue a five-game homestand versus the Washington Wizards at AmericanAirlines Arena.

The Washington Wizards couldn't find the basket this afternoon and fell 102-90 to the visiting Phoenix Suns.

The Wizards already are immersed in self-doubt. They are out of sync and out of sorts, found wanting in purpose and cohesiveness.

Jason Richardson scored 22 points, Steve Nash had 17 assists, and the Phoenix Suns maintained their dominance of the Washington Wizards with a 102-90 victory Sunday.

The Washington Wizards were supposed to be the surprise team of the NBA this season, but after double-digit losses against the Cavaliers, Hawks, and Pacers, there is no surprise left.

Flip Saunders said his Washington Wizards squad entered Tuesday night's game at Quicken Loans Arena in a prime position.

Dwayne Wade 's go-ahead jumper with 24 seconds left Wednesday boosted the Miami Heat to a 93-89 win over the Washington Wizards.

INDEPENDENCE: After struggling last season, it looks as if Daniel Gibson has returned to the rookie form that made him a fan favorite.

A healthy Gilbert Arenas will challenge Zydrunas Ilgauskas and the rest of the Cavaliers Tuesday night at The Q. CAVALIERS VS.

LeBron James scored 27 points, Shaquille O'Neal added a season-high 21 while wearing out Washington's big men and the Cleveland Cavaliers won their third straight, beating the Wizards 102-90 on Tuesday night.

When Flip Saunders took over as coach of the Washington Wizards last spring, his future and past players, league officials and analysts praised him for his impressive career winning percentage and offensive genius.

Let's get a couple of things straight about last night: That was the Andray Blatche that we've been waiting for all of these years.

Caron Butler is expected to return from a bruised left kneecap on Tuesday in Cleveland, and Antawn Jamison, sidelined with a right shoulder injury, will make his season debut some time in the next few weeks. But through the first three games of the season, the Washington Wizards (2-1) have shown that even without an all-star forward or two, they can succeed through double D: Depth and defense.

Neither had been present much in past seasons, when injuries left the Wizards without talented veterans, and an indifference to anything other than offense shortened their win totals and had them vacationing in May.

Did you attend this game? If so, start chronicling your sports memories today with ESPN's Sports Passport.

Andray Blatche put on his dark blade shades, slipped his charcoal jacket with white pin stripes over his burgundy shirt and had to absorb some heckling from his teammates.

Gilbert Arenas finished with 32 points and seven assists, as the Washington Wizards crushed the New Jersey Nets, 123-104, in their home opener.

Washington Wizards players heard before the season about the reputation of their new coach for using a streamlined rotation.

The New Jersey Nets will continue their search for the first win of the season tonight, when they visit the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center.

Angela Oliver opened her desk drawer in Greenville, S.C., on Thursday morning, saw the page peeking out, and thought, Damn, there it is. By coincidence, she had found a four-year-old article folded between the pages of a notebook.

'Blatche Shot,' the local paper read.

'That's the night I could've lost my baby,' said Oliver, the woman who raised and nurtured Andray Blatche. 'After everything that's happened since, you know it just seems so long ago now.

'It just feels good that I can actually look at it today and, say, 'That was then.' '

A pair of early unbeaten teams get together this evening in Atlanta, where the Hawks will host the Southeast Division-rival Washington Wizards at Philips Arena.