Wed Apr 2 22:10:44 2008

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Arenas returns, but Wizards lose at buzzer to Bucks

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Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Ramon Sessions hit a jumper at the buzzer to complete a Milwaukee comeback, and lift the Bucks to a 110-109 win over Washington, spoiling Gilbert Arenas' return to the Wizards.

Arenas, who got back on the court after missing the Wizards' past 66 games following knee surgery, made a pair of free throws with 15.1 seconds left to put Washington on top, 109-108.

Milwaukee fumbled its ensuing possession, leading to a jump ball with 6.3 left. Caron Butler, who appeared to injure his wrist in the scrum leading to the jump, won the tip for Washington, but the Wizards couldn't control it, and the Bucks recovered to gain possession with 1.1 ticks left.

The inbound went to Andrew Bogut at the edge of the lane, and he sent a touch pass to Sessions in the left corner. Sessions' shot left his hand with mere tenths left, and the ball went through the net for the win.

Sessions finished with eight points and eight assists, and Charlie Villanueva scored 24 and had 12 rebounds for the Bucks, who have won two in a row. Bogut finished with 20 points and 10 boards.

Arenas had 17 points in his first game since November 16. The three-time All- Star played the first eight games of the season for the Wizards before needing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, the same knee that required surgery in the offseason.

Butler and Antawn Jamison each scored 18 for the Wizards, who have lost three in a row. Washington remained tied with Toronto for fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, after the Raptors lost in Atlanta on Wednesday. But idle Philadelphia, which was a half-game behind, joined them in the now three-way tie.

Washington held an eight-point lead entering the fourth quarter, and maintained a similar margin for most of the stanza. But the Wizards also couldn't extend their lead to more than a few possessions, as Milwaukee never fell too far behind.

Arenas made free throw with 3:02 left to put Washington ahead, 107-101. On the other end, Sessions made a layup to trim the Wizards' lead to four. Following an Arenas turnover, Royal Ivey converted a three-point play to get the Bucks within one, and a Bogut layup put Milwaukee on top, 108-107.

During that same span, the Wizards managed a pair of shots, and missed them both to help set up the close finish.

Mo Williams chipped in 13 points, and Ivey finished with 10 for the Bucks.

Andray Blatche scored 15 off the bench for the Wizards, who raced out to a 13-4 lead less than three minutes into the game. But the Bucks countered with three consecutive buckets, the last of which, by Villanueva, brought Milwaukee within three.

The teams traded points for the rest of the first quarter, and a Michael Redd three trimmed Washington's lead to 33-30 heading into the next stanza.

Just several minutes into the second quarter, though, Bucks forward Yi Jianlian left the game after suffering a knee injury. He did not return.

The Wizards continued to hold an advantage, and extended it to 11 after a run of eight points that started with under three minutes to go.

DeShawn Stevenson had two baskets in the span, and a Brendan Haywood dunk put Washington up 61-50 with 1:26 on the clock. But a Villanueva layup and Bogut dunk ended the first-half scoring, and trimmed the Wizards' lead to seven going into the intermission.

The margin didn't fluctuate much in the third quarter, and Washington led 86-78 going into the final stanza.

Game Notes

Stevenson was also hurt on the play that led to a jump ball with 6.3 seconds left. He limped off the court favoring his right leg...Milwaukee hadn't won two straight since February 23 and 26, when the Bucks defeated Denver and Cleveland.