Wizards cut down Nets in Arenas’ absence

Chucky Atkins, Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler and Etan Thomas all scored 12 points for Washington, which snapped a three-game losing streak.

Atkins also dished out nine assists and Butler grabbed 10 rebounds.

The Wizards cruised despite being without leading scorer Gilbert Arenas, who sat out Tuesday’s game with a bruised lower back.

Vince Carter led the Nets with 14 points, but went just 5-of-15 from the floor.

Richard Jefferson had 13 points and Jason Kidd tallied 12 points for New Jersey, which has lost two straight games.

The Wizards jumped out to an 11-2 edge, showing no ill effects of Arenas’ absence. Hayes scored six points, including a four-point play, during the opening spurt.

Washington ended the stanza on an 8-2 run to take a 29-14 lead. Butler’s 15- foot jumper from the right baseline capped a period in which all five Wizard starters scored.

Antonio Daniels shielded the ball on the baseline and converted a reverse layup to increase the margin to 38-18 during the early stages of the second period.

However, Jamison’s three-pointer with just under four minutes remaining was the Wizards only field goal in the last six minutes. New Jersey took advantage of the drought to climb back into the game.

The Nets’ main three scorers — Carter, Kidd and Jefferson — triggered a 17-4 scoring streak to end the half. The trio compiled all 17 points, led by Carter’s nine. He scored the Nets final five points on a half hook in the paint and three free throws to get New Jersey within seven, 42-35.

Kidd was the only player in double-figures at the half with 12 points.

Washington retook its double-digit lead during the third and held a 66-51 advantage before putting the game out of reach.

An 8-0 spurt to end the period gave the Wizards an insurmountable 73-51 lead. Butler drained two free throws, Michael Ruffin connected on a layup and Thomas rebounded an Atkins’ miss and powered a shot in off the glass to open the large advantage.

The lead ballooned to 27 in the fourth on Thomas’ short jumper with just under eight minutes left.

Game Notes

Washington is 6-4 at home this season. New Jersey is 5-6 on the road...Washington has won four of the last six meetings between the two teams...Jamison grabbed eight rebounds in the victory...Washington made 8- of-15 from beyond the arc, while New Jersey converted just 3-of-17 from three- point range...Washington made 49.3 percent of its field goals, while the Nets shot just 39.4 percent from the floor.