Arenas suspended as Wizards get ready to visit Cavs

Basketball Betting Lines

01/06/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Wizards will be without star guard Gilbert Arenas tonight when they face LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena.

Arenas, who faces possible jail time for bringing guns into the locker room at the Verizon Center, home of the Wizards, last month, was suspended indefinitely by NBA commissioner David Stern this afternoon.

The high-priced product of Arizona had met with law enforcement and explained how it was an ill-advised attempt at trying to play a joke on one of his teammates. Joke or not, Arenas is in hot water and Stern acted.

"The possession of firearms by an NBA player in an NBA arena is a matter of the utmost concern to us," Stern said in a statement. "I initially thought it prudent to refrain from taking immediate action because of the pendency of a criminal investigation involving the office of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia and the Metropolitan Police Department, and the consideration of this matter by a grand jury sitting in the District of Columbia.

"For the same reason, I directed the Wizards to refrain from taking any action. Wizards personnel continue to be interviewed by law enforcement authorities, some are scheduled for appearance before the grand jury and the investigation is proceeding with the intensity that one would expect for such a serious incident.

"Although it is clear that the actions of Mr. Arenas will ultimately result in a substantial suspension, and perhaps worse, his ongoing conduct has led me to conclude that he is not currently fit to take the court in an NBA game. Accordingly, I am suspending Mr. Arenas indefinitely, without pay, effective immediately pending the completion of the investigation by the NBA."

In Tuesday's 104-97 victory at Philadelphia, Arenas put aside all the distractions by finishing with 19 points and 14 assists to help Washington snap a four-game losing streak. Antawn Jamison scored 24 of his game-high 32 points in the second half and also pulled down 14 rebounds in the win.

"We had a great stretch," Wizards coach Flip Saunders said. "What we hadn't be able to do lately we did, execute plays and score down the stretch."

Nick Young added 21 points off the bench in the win. The Wizards are 6-12 as the visitor this season.

Arenas created more controversy, however, when he was seen pretending as if his fingers were guns and shooting at his teammates in the pre-game huddle, something his own organization found distasteful.

"We fully endorse the decision of the NBA to indefinitely suspend Gilbert Arenas," the team said in a statement after Arenas was suspended. "Strictly legal issues aside, Gilberts recent behavior and statements, including his actions and statements last night in Philadelphia, are unacceptable. Some of our other players appeared to find Gilbert's behavior in Philadelphia amusing. This is also unacceptable. Under Abe Pollins leadership, our organization never tolerated such behavior, and we have no intention of ever doing so."

Cleveland had a seven-game winning streak halted with a 91-88 home setback versus the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday at the 'Q'. James finished with 29 points, seven rebounds and six assists, but missed a potential game-tying shot at the buzzer.

"We've always been a good team to being able to adjust to the pace of the game," James said after the Central Division-leading Cavs fell to 13-3 as the host. "I just think at times we looked stagnant on the offensive end, and it allowed them to just continue to be comfortable."

Mo Williams contributed 27 points and six assists in the loss, only the Cavs' second in their last 14 games.

Washington and Cleveland have split a pair of matchups this season, while the Cavs are unbeaten in the last six meetings as the host.

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