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He has missed all of this season so far after having his third knee operation in 18 months. But Arenas started practicing with his teammates last month and has targeted Saturday's game against the visiting Detroit Pistons for his return.
"The plan is still holding," Wizards interim coach Ed Tapscott said Wednesday. "T-minus-48 or something. So we're still on schedule for launch, I guess."
Los Angeles Lakers (56-14) at Detroit Pistons (34-36), 7:30 p.m.
The Western Conference's top team, the Los Angeles Lakers, will continue a season-long seven-game road trip Thursday against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Los Angeles has won three straight and six of seven games, and improved to 2-0 on the trip with a 107-89 victory in Oklahoma City on Tuesday at the Ford Center. Superstar Kobe Bryant scored 19 points to lead the top-seeded Lakers, who are 25-9 away from Hollywood this season.
Pau Gasol tallied 14 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists, while Lamar Odom chipped in 18 points and six boards before fouling out in the win. The Pacific Division-champion Lakers will also visit the Nets, Hawks, Bobcats and Bucks on the current road swing. The Pistons have lost two straight and five of their last six games, including Tuesday's 99-91 setback at Chicago. Will Bynum and Tayshaun Prince scored 20 points apiece for Detroit, which is currently seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. Antonio McDyess added 16 points and eight rebounds in defeat. The banged-up Pistons were again without guard Richard Hamilton (groin), center Rasheed Wallace (calf) and guard Allen Iverson (back). Hamilton has missed five straight games and Wallace has been sidelined eight consecutive contests. Hamilton is doubtful for tonight and Wallace is expected to miss the game, while Iverson is out indefinitely and hasn't played since a February 25 loss at New Orleans.
Detroit is back at home where it owns an 18-18 mark this season. The Pistons won the first meeting with the Lakers, 106-95, on November 14 at Staples Center behind Wallace's 25 points and 13 boards. Detroit has won four of the last five meetings in the series, while the Lakers have lost six straight after winning their last nine trips to The Palace.
A. Sherrod Blakely, MLive.com: "It’s that time of season — a time where 'black and blue' become every team’s colors. This much is true for the Detroit Pistons, particularly their three core players: Allen Iverson, Rasheed Wallace and Rip Hamilton. But while one remains hobbled, two could be returning in a matter of days. Iverson (sore back) appears to be the one whose return is most uncertain, while Wallace (left calf strain) and Hamilton (groin) both seem close to coming back, possibly as early as this weekend."
On whether Salmons' arrival means the Bulls won't re-sign Gordon this summer:
“Some of this will be financial, that's the nature of the business right now. We'd love to keep Ben Gordon. We tried the last two years and we made offers that were substantial. But for whatever reason, it didn't work out and I don't assign blame to anybody. I still think we'll have a chance in the off-season to look at the big picture and try to get him back.”
Nene sidelined two games by NBA suspension
Nene was suspended by the NBA because of his altercation Monday during the Nuggets' 118-115 loss to the Suns in Phoenix. He didn't play Wednesday at New Orleans and also will sit out Friday's game at Dallas. Asked if he was shocked when he found out Nene's suspension was two games, coach George Karl said, "I was shocked at one game, so obviously I'd be shocked with two games."
Nene head-butted the Suns' Louis Amundson. When Nene was leaving the court, it appeared he had physical contact with official Bill Spooner. "My impression was I thought the referee touched him first, presented his hand on him first, and then Nene brushed him away," Karl said.
A Nuggets official said one of the games in the suspension was for Nene's head butt, and the second was for his altercation with the official. Per league rules, Nene was not at the arena Wednesday but will be able to practice today in Dallas. Johan Petro started in his place against the Hornets.
DANI DECISION: Danilo Gallinari reiterated to MSG Network that he is "leaning" toward having back surgery. Gallinari's army of doctors is consulting on the issue and a decision is expected to come by the end of the week.
"I want to be ready to help the team next season," he said.
HUGHES BACK: Larry Hughes (toe) returned after missing one game.
When the second of Demetris Nichols' 10-day contracts expires the Knicks are expected to decline the option of signing him for the remainder of the season.
Tony Allen on board
Tony Allen, out since early February with a left thumb injury, made the trip.
While it was initially said when he had his surgery that he would not return until the start of the playoffs, the Celts are now thinking he could be back by the April 8 game against New Jersey.“He’s getting closer, so whenever guys get closer to returning we try to bring them on the trip to integrate them back into the team and watch our stuff,” Rivers said. “Like I said the other day, and people were surprised, he’s the closest to returning of the three that are out. Leon (Powe) and Scal (Brian Scalabrine), they’re going to be out for a while. “If we can play (Allen) that last week, that would be great.”
Allen will see a specialist on Monday, and if things go well then he could be cleared for contact. “I’m just going to attack it once they tell me,” he said.
Powe was supposed to be out 2-3 weeks after bruising his right knee on March 17 in Chicago, but it’s possible he will miss the remainder of the current schedule.
“I’m more concerned about getting Leon back for Game 1 of the playoffs,” Rivers said.
Bulls' Luol Deng leaning against surgery on leg
Deng, who has missed 12 straight games with a stress fracture in his right tibia, said he planned to increase his workouts to gauge how his leg reacts. More importantly, Deng said he's leaning toward ruling out surgery. "I want to play," Deng said. "It'd be great if I can get back, especially because we should make the playoffs."
Since Feb. 28, Deng has been limited to pool and stationary bicycle work and running on a "weightless" treadmill designed to minimize impact. His increased workouts will include more running.
Kenyon Martin, who was battling back injuries, "is still getting rehab, so he's not 100 percent, but I think he's getting the rust off," Karl said. "There seems to be a little more of reaction and athletic bounce that sometimes takes a game or two to get when you haven't played for a while."
Steven Hunter, who had knee surgery, will return to practice today. Hunter said he needs to brush up on the playbook before he will be ready for game action.
Forward Patrick Patterson said his plan at the moment is to return to Kentucky. That could change. The 6-foot-9, 235-pound sophomore is an NBA prospect. So is guard Jodie Meeks, who led the Wildcats and the SEC in scoring this season. Wednesday, Meeks gave Gillispie critics even more fuel when he took only three shots in the first 27 minutes. After that, Meeks finally started shooting and scored 18 of his 21 points. Meeks said he hadn't thought about the future.
ISIAH TALKS TO CLIPPERS
Isiah Thomas had recent talks with Clippers owner Donald Sterling about a position in the organization, according to a Los Angeles source last night at the Garden.
The L.A. source said Thomas spoke with Sterling and Clippers coach/GM Mike Dunleavy about a potential personnel job. Thomas told them he would be in Los Angeles quite a bit next season because his daughter, Lauren, will be attending Loyola Marymount in L.A.
The source said talks didn't go anywhere, because the club does not have a current position suited for Thomas, though it recently fired Elgin Baylor, who was vice president of basketball operations.
Murphy injures knee in practice
A The Indiana Pacers were without leading rebounder Troy Murphy for Wednesday's game against the Miami Heat.
Murphy sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee at the end of the team's morning shootaround Wednesday. "It's very painful," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "He can't cut. He tried to warm up and couldn't do it."
Murphy injured his knee when he tried to get through a screen at the end of the shootaround.
Swingman Marquis Daniels missed his third straight game with an injured right wrist, on which he constantly wears a brace. There's no timetable for his return.
Pops battles sore knee
The Raptors were lacking some pop last night when energetic forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu was scratched just prior to tipoff.
Mensah-Bonsu is nursing a sore right knee and is being listed as day to day.
The Raptors signed Mensah-Bonsu for the balance of the season on March 6.
Guard Tony Allen, who missed his 19th straight game after left thumb surgery (non-shooting hand), made the two-game road trip. Rivers is hopeful Allen could return to game action in two weeks. Allen said he will see a doctor Monday in hopes of getting a new brace that will allow him to do more basketball-wise, but right now he can't catch a hard pass.
"[Allen] is getting closer," Rivers said. "Whenever a guy is getting closer we try to bring him on a trip to integrate him back onto the team and watch our stuff."
Rivers said he is more concerned about getting Leon Powe, who is out with a right knee strain suffered at Chicago March 17, ready for the playoffs. Brian Scalabrine has been out since because of concussions and it's uncertain when he will return.
Said Rivers, "[Allen's] the closest to returning with the other three that are out. Leon and Scal are going to be out for a while."