Wizards looking over their shoulder

Though still much alive to grab the top seed in the East — the Wizards trail Detroit by just 3 1/2 games — the club has lost five of its last eight and now leads the Southeast by just three games over Miami.

Washington’s losing skid includes four straight defeats from February 23-28, with the fourth defeat coming at the hands of the Heat. Gilbert Arenas shot just 3-of-18 for 15 points in that 92-83 setback, while Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison both missed the game due to injury.

Butler and Jamison combined for 52 points in Washington’s win over Miami on December 15.

While the Wizards have been slipping, the Heat have been on fire as of late. That makes their matchup this Sunday in Miami a big one as the Heat will try to close the gap in the division standings. The teams then wrap their season series on April 11 in Miami.

One key for the Wizards will be their health. Arenas and DeShawn Stevenson have started every game this year, but Jamison missed a chunk of time with a left knee sprain and Butler has been battling a back ailment.

However, when those four are on the floor to start a game, in addition to Brendan Haywood, the Wizards are 20-6 on the season.

Arenas has been good in the Wizards’ last three games. He is averaging 28.3 points per game over that span and was a perfect 5-of-5 from three-point range in a 129-109 win over Toronto on Tuesday. He has also handed out 16 assists over his last three outings and is 22-of-24 from the line as well.

Arenas has posted eight double-doubles on the season and has netted 40-plus points eight times this year.