More Washington Wizards speak to authorities about Gilbert Arenas gun case | NBA

WASHINGTON — With various players missing for various reasons, including some who had to talk to authorities about the Gilbert Arenas gun investigation, only eight members of the Washington Wizards were warming up on court Tuesday as coach Flip Saunders spoke nearby.

"Right now, there is definitely going to be discipline," Saunders intoned, "whether they like it or not."

Clearly, Saunders has his hands full at the moment. He is in his first year with a team dealing with far more serious matters than its 12-24 record.

Saunders said getting his team to focus on basketball has been difficult the past few weeks. "With all the outside distractions, the one thing that's normal is when you step on the court," he said. "I've tried to use that as a selling point. 'Use the frustrations or distractions and try to use the court, being on there, as a calming effect for you.' "

At least two Wizards, JaVale McGee and Mike Miller, were absent from the morning shoot-around because they were going to be questioned about what happened with Arenas, who was suspended indefinitely by the NBA last week.

A third player, Andray Blatche, also was slated to be speaking about the Arenas case — and he was barred from practicing anyway Tuesday, having been suspended for the Pistons game for conduct detrimental to the team. Nearly all traces of Arenas have been purged from Washington's arena, including a banner that used to hang outside.

"He said, 'Well, I didn't get a shot in a game.' If you're 6-10, 6-11, you can get a shot by getting an offensive rebound and getting shots. Anybody, whether it's him or anybody, that thinks a coach has to run plays to get you shots — that's the sign of a team that's not going to be a very good team," Saunders said.

"I hope it impacts him. I hope he comes back energized. I hope he comes back with a focus. I hope he understands what it takes to win," Saunders added.

Notes

• The Detroit Pistons finally found a team in worse shape than they are and ended a 13-game losing streak by beating the Washington Wizards 99-90 behind Charlie Villanueva's 23 points and nine rebounds.

Richard Hamilton and Rodney Stuckey, the former Kentwood and Eastern Washington star, each scored 19 for the Pistons.

• Tim Duncan had 25 points and 13 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs rolled by the Los Angeles Lakers 105-85.

Tony Parker scored 22. The Lakers are just the fourth winning team San Antonio has beaten, but none the caliber of the defending NBA champions.

Kobe Bryant had another off game, scoring 16 points. He again wore a thick splint over his broken right index finger.

• Stephen Jackson scored 16 of his career-high 43 points in the fourth quarter and the Charlotte Bobcats clamped down on defense after halftime to rally past the Houston Rockets, 102-94.

• Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol each scored 24 points, and Memphis earned a 104-102 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. The Grizzlies overcame Baron Davis' triple-double (27 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists) and a 36-minute delay caused by a water line break in the fire sprinkler system at FedExForum for their sixth straight home win.

• Dwight Howard had 30 points and 16 rebounds, and Orlando beat Sacramento 109-88. Former Husky Jon Brockman had nine points and six rebounds for the Kings.

• Wizards guard Mike Miller is out again with a right calf injury that already sidelined him for about 1 ½ months. Saunders said Miller "might be out a week or so."

• Sacramento's Kevin Martin is ready to return to practice after recovering from surgery on his left wrist.