"The Washington Wizards, desperate to snap a five-game losing streak, anxiously looked to this weekend for what they anticipated would mark both the season debut of team captain Antawn Jamison and the return of starting shooting guard Mike Miller.

Jamison and Miller - as well as backup point guard Randy Foye, who sprained his ankle Tuesday - could be back in uniform for the Wizards on Saturday night when they host the Detroit Pistons, but the team will be far from whole again.

And that's if they play.

Jamison, who has been sidelined since Oct. 13 with a partially dislocated right shoulder, was cleared for practice Thursday. But his status for Saturday is in doubt because of a virus that kept him from practicing Thursday and Friday.

Miller, who sprained his left shoulder Nov. 4, took part in noncontact activity Thursday, then went full speed Friday. He said he still is experiencing a good deal of pain, however, and coach Flip Saunders said the team would wait to see how Miller and Jamison felt after Saturday morning's shootaround before determining whether they would play.

Miller on Friday described his shoulder as "playable" even though he said the pain made this injury the worst of his 10-year career. He's willing to play, though, because the sense of urgency associated with getting his team on track is more intense than the discomfort in his shoulder. "