WASHINGTON (AP) -The Washington Wizards, who lost 225 man-games due to injuries this season, had a full contingent on the floor Thursday for their first practice in preparation for the opening-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Those taking part included Caron Butler, who sat out the final three games of the regular season with a bruised right knee, DeShawn Stevenson, who has been bothered by a sore back, and Gilbert Arenas, who has been coming off the bench since returning from knee surgery.
Coach Eddie Jordan said only Arenas will be limited for Game 1 in Cleveland on Saturday.
“We want to get him off the bench, look at 25 minutes, hopefully it grows to 28 minutes, maybe 30 minutes if he feels good,” Jordan said. “He’ll be a catalyst for us off the bench.”
Butler, who missed the playoff series last year against the Cavaliers with a hand injury, said he is “banged up a little bit everywhere” but isn’t going to let his aches and pains keep him off the court this time.
“When I was injured last year, I was still trying to get out on the court,” said Butler, who averaged a team-high 18.7 points against the Cavaliers this season. “I healed up about two weeks too late and now it’s an opportunity to play a little banged up. At the same time, my teammates need me and I know we can get the job done with me out there.”
Stevenson has engaged recently in some long-distance trash-talking with Cleveland star LeBron James, which began when Stevenson called the Cavaliers “overrated.” Stevenson knows his words will make him a marked man throughout the series.
“Hopefully I am. I should be,” Stevenson said. “We’ve got to win the series. I feel that it’s our time and somebody has to step up.”
Asked how will get his body and mind ready for Saturday, Stevenson said: “Just put on highlights of LeBron.”
Coach Mike Brown gave the Cavaliers the day off Thursday.
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