(Sports Network) - Two of the worst and youngest teams in the Eastern
Conference renew their Southeast Division rivalry tonight in Charlotte, where
the Washington Wizards battle the lowly Bobcats from Time Warner Cable Arena.
The Wizards have lost five straight and 10 of 11 games, including Friday's
110-98 loss at New Jersey in the second test of a three-game road trip. John
Wall scored 18 points, while Roger Mason and Kevin Seraphin both scored 15
points for Washington, which opened the trek with a loss at Detroit and fell
to 5-23 away from D.C. this season.
Washington scored 18 of the last 24 points, but it wasn't enough.
"We let them do whatever they wanted so we got what we deserved," Wizards head
coach Randy Wittman said.
James Singleton scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds in defeat. Seraphin
is averaging 16.0 points and 7.6 rebounds in his five games during this month.
Wall has posted averages of 17.0 points, 7.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds in his
last 23 games since the All-Star break.
Wizards forward Trevor Booker and center Nene are questionable for Monday's
game because of plantar fasciitis in the left foot of both players.
Charlotte hopes to put the brakes on a nagging 11-game losing streak tonight
and dropped a 116-96 decision to Atlanta on Saturday.
Cory Higgins scored a career-high 22 points, Byron Mullen added 17 points and
Kemba Walker notched 10 for the Bobcats, who shot 46.9 percent and turned the
ball over 14 times for 24 Hawks' points. Charlotte is just 5-34 against the
East this season (3-16 home).
"We just couldn't pick it up. Their second unit was on it tonight," Bobcats
head coach Paul Silas said. "They played very well tonight, and we just could
not get back in it."
Walker has scored in double figures in six of the last seven games. Mullens is
averaging 19.2 ppg in his previous five contests. The Bobcats are winless in
six straight at home and own a 4-21 record as the host this season. Bobcats
guard D.J. Augustin (knee) is expected to miss Monday's game and both DeSagana
Diop (hamstring/knee) and Reggie Williams (knee) are listed as questionable.
The Bobcats lost 16 in a row from Jan. 16-Feb. 15 this season, and have
dropped the first two meetings with Washington. Both clubs will meet again on
April 23 in the nation's capital. These two division foes have split the past
12 matchups in Charlotte.
The Sports Network