Wizards-Magic Preview

4/15/2008 10:02 PM

By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN
STATS Editor

The two best teams in the Southeast Division get one final tuneup before the playoffs Wednesday when the Orlando Magic host the Washington Wizards.

Orlando (51-30), the division champion, will be the No. 3 seed and play Toronto in the playoffs. Washington (43-38) is the fifth seed and face Cleveland in the first round.

The Magic were swept last season as the No. 8 seed by Detroit while Washington lost in the first round to Cleveland - the reigning Eastern Conference champions - for the second straight year in 2007.

The Wizards are eager for another rematch.

"It's a broken record," Washington center Brendan Haywood said. "Even though we've been playing the same team over and over again, kind of like 'Groundhog Day,' we're still happy to be there and we're not taking it for granted."

Orlando, which has reached the 50-win plateau for the first time in 12 years, is hoping for more success this postseason. Fourth-year center Dwight Howard is enjoying his best season, and he has been complemented well by Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis.

The Magic won their final road game, 121-105 at Atlanta on Tuesday. They placed seven players in double figures, led by Maurice Evans' 27 points, and Howard added 15 and 13 boards.

Although Wednesday's game is the second half of a back-to-back, it sounds as if Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy isn't going to concede anything to Washington.

"If they're keeping score, I want to win," Van Gundy said. "I don't care, exhibition game or anything else. If there's a scoreboard, I'd rather be on the right side of that. Now, I wasn't going to sacrifice everything for that. I wasn't going to play guys 40 minutes or whatever. But we want to win."

While Washington will give some of its regulars some rest in this meaningless finale, Gilbert Arenas may see extended action. Arenas will play just his sixth game since returning from knee injury, and has averaged 14.6 points since returning.

The Wizards may also try to get Caron Butler back on the court. Butler has missed the last two games with a bruised right knee.

Washington coach Eddie Jordan has indicated his preference for getting Arenas and Butler some minutes before the playoffs.

The visiting team has won all three matchups between Orlando and Washington this season, with the Wizards winning twice.