GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: WASHINGTON (0-0) at INDIANA (0-0)

NBA: WASHINGTON (0-0) at INDIANA (0-0)

<h3>Arenas, Wizards open season on the road at Pacers</h3>

<div class="pre">Washington (0-0) at Indiana (0-0) 7:00 pm EDT</div>

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Gilbert Arenas and the WashingtonWizards try to begin their season on a high note when theyvisit the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.


Arenas followed up a break-out season in 2005-06 with anothertremendous performance during the 2006-07 campaign. The mannicknamed "Agent Zero" averaged 28.4 points a game, third bestin the league, while dishing out six assists in his sixth NBAseason.


But Arenas missed the playoffs last season after suffering aknee injury in early April.


While Arenas continues to dominate the league with his abilityto score at will, he hasn't received much help from histeammates. The problem may continue during the 2007-08 seasonafter the Wizards failed to make moves to improve the supportingcast during the offseason.


The Pacers are trying to return to the playoffs after missingthe postseason for the first time in nine seasons last year,finishing with a 35-47 record - their worst since the 1988-89season.


New coach Jim O'Brien replaces Rick Carlisle in Indiana and hasa proven track record with losing teams. O'Brien took theBoston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers to the playoffs the in hisfirst season as coach after they had finished with losingrecords in the previous season.


O'Brien may be without star forward Jermaine O'Neal, who isdoubtful with a knee injury. Forward Troy Murphy is doubtfulwith an Achilles ailment.

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at INDIANA

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON AT INDIANA - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


WASHINGTON INDIANA

F Antawn Jamison F Danny Granger
F Caron Butler F Ike Diogu
C Brendan Haywood C Jeff Foster
G DeShawn Stevenson G Jamaal Tinsley
G Gilbert Arenas G Mike Dunleavy</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at INDIANA

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON AT INDIANA - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


WASHINGTON INDIANA

F Antawn Jamison F Danny Granger
F Caron Butler F Ike Diogu
C Brendan Haywood C Jeff Foster
G DeShawn Stevenson G Jamaal Tinsley
G Gilbert Arenas G Mike Dunleavy

OFFICIALS: Joe Crawford
Derrick Stafford
Orlandis Poole</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at INDIANA

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON VS INDIANA - INACTIVES

WASHINGTON INDIANA

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
E THOMAS HEART SURGERY J O'NEAL HYPER-EXTENDED LEFT
T MURPHY ACHILLES TENDINITIS
S WILLIAMS SUSPENDED BY TEAM</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at INDIANA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 6
INDIANA 3 8:48 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at INDIANA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 8
INDIANA 13 6:12 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at INDIANA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 14
INDIANA 17 2:50 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at INDIANA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 23
INDIANA 28 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at INDIANA

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
WASHINGTON 23 23
INDIANA 28 28 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

WAS - GILBERT ARENAS 11, ANTAWN JAMISON 4,
BRENDAN HAYWOOD 4
IND - MIKE DUNLEAVY 7, DANNY GRANGER 6, DAVID
HARRISON 6</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at INDIANA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 32
INDIANA 28 8:56 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at INDIANA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 34
INDIANA 36 5:55 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at INDIANA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 42
INDIANA 40 2:35 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at INDIANA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 45
INDIANA 48 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at INDIANA

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
WASHINGTON 23 22 45
INDIANA 28 20 48 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

WAS - GILBERT ARENAS 14, ANTAWN JAMISON 11,
BRENDAN HAYWOOD 7
IND - MIKE DUNLEAVY 15, DAVID HARRISON 8,
DANNY GRANGER 6</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at INDIANA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 58
INDIANA 59 9:04 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at INDIANA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 61
INDIANA 58 5:50 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at INDIANA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 65
INDIANA 65 2:52 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at INDIANA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 70
INDIANA 70 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at INDIANA

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
WASHINGTON 23 22 25 70
INDIANA 28 20 22 70 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

WAS - GILBERT ARENAS 23, ANTAWN JAMISON 15,
BRENDAN HAYWOOD 9
IND - MIKE DUNLEAVY 18, DANNY GRANGER 10, IKE
DIOGU 9</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at INDIANA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 75
INDIANA 74 8:45 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>