Slumping Wizards limp into Charlotte

Posted: Wed Feb 11 10:58 AM

(Sports Network) - The Washington Wizards will try to put the brakes on a five-game road losing streak this evening, when they take on the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Washington will also close out a brief two-game road swing tonight and is coming off Tuesday's 111-90 setback at Atlanta's Philips Arena. Caron Butler recorded 22 points and eight boards for the Wizards, who have lost nine of their last 11 contests overall and fell to 3-22 as the guest this season.

JaVale McGee added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Wizards, while Antawn Jamison finished with 17 points and 12 boards in defeat.

Washington center Darius Songaila left last night's game in the second quarter with a bruised left elbow and did not return. He had just two points in 15 1/2 minutes and is questionable against Charlotte.

Meanwhile, the Bobcats ended a five-game losing streak with a 94-73 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday in the opener of a short two-game homestand.

Emeka Okafor finished with 19 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Bobcats, who got 15 points apiece from Boris Diaw and Raymond Felton. D.J. Augustin chipped in 17 points and Vladimir Radmanovic, who came to Charlotte via a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, scored 13 points off the bench in his Bobcats debut.

On the injury front for Charlotte, guard Raja Bell is questionable versus the Wizards with a strained right groin and forward Juwan Howard (big toe inflammation) is expected to miss Wednesday's game.

The Bobcats are 2-0 against the Southeast Division-rival Wizards this season and have won three straight and five of the past eight meetings between the teams. Washington is 12-6 all-time against Charlotte, which is 3-6 as the host in this series.