Larry Brown brings Pistons to Washington

The Wizards were crushed Wednesday by the Los Angeles Lakers, 120-99 at Staples Center.

Jarvis Hayes scored 22 points and Juan Dixon contributed 20 for the Wizards, who have lost three of their last four contests. Larry Hughes added 13 for Washington.

Prior to Tuesday’s 81-80 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Washington placed guard Gilbert Arenas on the injured list with an abdominal strain.

The 21-year-old Arenas, who was signed to a six-year, $64 million free-agent contract last summer, is averaging 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 13 games this season for the Wizards.

The Wizards are 3-3 at home this season.

Hamilton posted a career-high 44 points to lead the Detroit Pistons to a hard-fought, 92-88 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Elden Campbell had a season-high 13 points and Tayshaun Prince contributed 12 with seven assists and six rebounds, and the Pistons won for the sixth time in eight games.

Cleveland trailed for most of the game, occasionally by double-digits, but clawed to within two points at 71-69 to open the fourth quarter. The Cavs took the lead three minutes in on a basket by Chris Mihm, but Detroit ended a seven- minute scoreless stretch with a Hamilton bucket to tie things at 73 apiece with seven minutes to play.

The Cavaliers opened up a lead as large as five at 79-74 when LeBron James scored with 5:20 to go. But Detroit dominated down the stretch, as the Cavs jacked up bad shots and turned the ball over during a 10-0 Pistons run.

Hamilton’s pair of free throws with a minute and a half left capped the spurt and gave Detroit an 84-79 advantage. Cleveland could get no closer than three.

The Pistons are 5-4 on the road.

In 2002-03, the Pistons won three of the four contests between the two clubs

Overall, Detroit has won three straight and seven of the last eight meetings.