"It's getting to the point that the last thing the Wizards need is for an opponent to show up without an injured starter. Chicago didn't have Derrick Rose nearly two weeks ago and John Lucas III did a reasonable impersonation of the league's two-time most valuable. Denver didn't have Nene and Al Harrington made so many three-pointers he became an afterthought.

The Boston Celtics seemingly provided an opportunity for the Wizards when all-star point guard Rajon Rondo showed up in civilian clothes because of a left wrist injury. All-star point guard Ray Allen later went down with jammed left ankle in the second quarter, when he stepped on Jan Vesely's foot and collapsed to the ground. No Rondo or Allen simply meant that it was on Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to lead the undermanned Celtics to a 100-94 win. "