Bobcats, Wizards begin home-and-home set

Washington will host the Bobcats on Wednesday at the Verizon Center.

The is the third of four meetings between the clubs this season. The Wizards won the first two contests and have captured five in a row in the series.

The Wizards have won four of five as the visitor against the Bobcats.

Washington leads the defending world champion and second place Miami Heat by a half game in the Southeast. The Wizards are the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.

All-Star Caron Butler poured in 19 points and grabbed five rebounds before fracturing his right hand in the third quarter, as the Wizards trounced the Milwaukee Bucks, 121-107, on Sunday at the Bradley Center.

Butler left the game with 6:28 remaining in the third quarter. The Connecticut product is averaging 19.1 points and 7.4 rebounds in 63 games this season. The 6-7 Butler is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

Gilbert Arenas scored 19 points and dished out nine assists in the win for Washington, which has won two of its last three games overall. Jarvis Hayes ended with 17 points, while Darius Songaila netted 15 in the victory.

The Wizards are 13-23 as the visitor this season and 2-3 in their last five on the road.

Charlotte tries to get back on the winning track this evening. On Sunday, Chris Bosh posted 24 points and 16 rebounds as the Atlantic Division-leading Toronto Raptors downed the Bobcats, 107-94, at Air Canada Centre.

Walter Herrmann collected 22 points and eight rebounds for Charlotte, which failed to extend its winning streak to three games. Emeka Okafor scored 16 points and Gerald Wallace netted 13 for the Bobcats.

The Bobcats are 18-19 at home this season. They have won two in a row at Charlotte Bobcats Arena.