Wizards forward Caron Butler bruised his knee in the team's loss to the Hawks on Friday night.

He suffered the injury diving for a loss ball in the second quarter and didn't return to the game.

His status for Saturday night's game against the Nets is in doubt.

"Hopefully, he bounces back quickly, man," center Brendan Haywood told the Washington Times. "Sometimes it's just frustrating. It feels like we're cursed."

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has exercised their options on both guard Nick Young and center/forward JaVale McGee.  Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not released.

Under the terms of the NBA?s collective bargaining agreement, the first two years of a first round draft pick?s contract are guaranteed while the third and fourth year of the contract are the team?s option.  Young was selected with the 16th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, while McGee was selected with the 18th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.

Young averaged 9.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 157 games during his first two seasons in Washington, while McGee averaged 6.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.0 block per game as a rookie with the Wizards last season.

After four long months, the NBA is finally back in action. The 2009-10 season kicked off with four matchups dripping with both playoff possibilities and long-standing rivalries.

- Boston 95, Cleveland 89

Team FIC Differential: Celtics +11.8, Cavaliers -11.8

The Boston Celtics (1-0) used a strong second quarter to open the new season with a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers (0-1). Paul Pierce starred with 23 points and 11 rebounds, Kevin Garnett returned to action with 13 points and 10 boards and Rajon Rondo contributed eight points, 10 assists and six rebounds. Boston outrebounded Cleveland by six, while shooting 9-for-19 from three-point land. LeBron James excelled with 38 points and eight assists, Shaquille O?Neal made his debut with 10 points and 10 boards and Mo Williams scored 12 points on 3-for-8 shooting.

Game FIC Scores

LeBron James, Cleveland ? 26.6

Paul Pierce, Boston ? 16.5

Rajon Rondo, Boston ? 16.0

Kevin Garnett, Boston ? 14.8

- Washington 102, Dallas 91

Team FIC Differential: Wizards +4.8, Mavericks -4.8

Gilbert Arenas led the Washington Wizards (1-0) to an impressive road win over the Dallas Mavericks (0-1) on Tuesday night. Arenas had 29 points and nine assists, Caron Butler posted 16 points and eight rebounds and Andray Blatche contributed 20 points and seven boards in the victory. Washington held Dallas to 39% shooting, while attempting ten fewer foul shots. Dirk Nowitzki starred with 34 points and nine rebounds, Shawn Marion tallied 16 points and seven boards and J.J. Barea put up 13 points, six rebounds and four assists off the bench.

Game FIC Scores

Andray Blatche, Washington ? 16.5

Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas ? 16.4

Gilbert Arenas, Washington ? 15.9

Shawn Marion, Dallas ? 13.9

- Portland 96, Houston 87

Team FIC Differential: Trail Blazers +30.2, Rockets -30.2

The Portland Trail Blazers (1-0) used a strong second quarter to distance themselves from the Houston Rockets (0-1), who refused to lie down in the second half. Travis Outlaw led with 23 points off the bench, Brandon Roy posted 20 points, five rebounds and five assists and Greg Oden contributed two points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots. Portland outrebounded Houston by 18, which allowed them to overcome an unsightly 26 turnovers. Aaron Brooks had 19 points and five assists, Kyle Lowry tallied 12 points and eight dimes and David Anderson put up 11 points and five rebounds in the loss.

Game FIC Scores

Travis Outlaw, Portland ? 17.8

Kyle Lowry, Houston ? 14.0

Martell Webster, Portland ? 12.2

Aaron Brooks, Houston ? 12.2

- L.A. Lakers, 99, L.A. Clippers 92

Team FIC Differential: Lakers +1.2, Clippers -1.2

The Los Angeles Lakers (1-0) used a six-point edge in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Los Angeles Clippers (0-1) on Tuesday night. Without Pau Gasol (hamstring), Kobe Bryant starred with 33 points and eight rebounds, Andrew Bynum tallied 23 points and 13 boards and Lamar Odom added 16 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. The Lakers attempted 21 more free throws than the Clippers, who won the rebounding battle by four and held the defending champions to 41% shooting on the night. Eric Gordon scored 21 points on 7-for-14 shooting, Chris Kaman exploded with 18 points and 16 rebounds and Marcus Camby aided with 14 points, six rebounds and four assists. The Lakers received their championship rings in a ceremony prior to the game.

Game FIC Scores

Andrew Bynum, L.A. Lakers ? 22.8

Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers ? 21.0

Lamar Odom, L.A. Lakers ? 19.8

Chris Kaman, L.A. Clippers ? 15.5

? RealGM calculates the Floor Impact Counter using the following formula: (Points + .75 Defensive Rebounds + Offensive Rebounds + Steals + Assists + Blocks - .75 Field Goal Attempts - .375 Free Throw Attempts - Turnovers - .5 Personal Fouls)

( )'s indicate a negative FIC score.

It is also used to rank players and to determine their ?Reina Value.? Click here to view the player rankings with the Reina Value for the current season

A rival executive believes that Gilbert Arenas needs to either become a leader or follower in order for the Wizards to get a full return on their investment.

Arenas has five years and $95 million remaining on his contract.

"The worst thing that can happen is that he's neither," the executive told the Washington Post. "He's a hell of a player, as good as they come in the league, but I don't know if Gilbert is capable of taking the foolishness out of his lifestyle in order to be a leader. I also don't know if he's able to take the ego and pride out of his game to be a follower. [Leadership] has been a fundamental issue with the Wizards and it will continue to be until it is solved in one way or another, whether it's through the head coach, the players or the management."

Arenas is attempting to put two season's worth of knee injuries behind him this year.

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that forward Antawn Jamison?s right shoulder has been re-evaluated and that the findings were consistent with the original diagnosis of a subluxation.  

He is expected to miss from four to six weeks from the date of the injury (Jamison sustained the injury in the Wizards? 109-104 win in Cleveland on Oct. 14).

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has waived guard/forward Vincent Grier.  

Grier appeared in one preseason game for Washington and recorded one assist in seven minutes of action.  Grier originally signed with Washington on September 25, 2009.  

The Wizards roster now stands at 15.

Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo was tutored this summer by NBA veterans Chauncey Billups and Gilbert Arenas.

Mayo counts Memphis coach Lionel Hollins and Billups as his greatest mentors.

"Chauncey Billups, in my mind, is the best leader in our league," Mayo told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "Chris Paul is a great point guard. Deron Williams is great. Rajon Rondo. But Chauncey Billups is by far the No. 1 leader in our league. Just being around him and seeing how he leads on and off the court was a big thing.

"And coach Hollins is a very passionate coach. If you can't play hard for that man then you don't want to play this game. He's by far the most passionate coach I've ever had. I'll leave it at that. He is the guy for this job; to get the monkey off this organization's back. ... He understands that his job could be on the line so he's not going to tell us anything wrong. We just have to go out and execute what he tells us to the best of our abilities. I'm willing to follow his lead and then do whatever it takes to win."

Former Wizards coach Eddie Jordan has been criticized by Gilbert Arenas, but the guard's comments don't bother the new 76ers coach the least bit.

Arenas has knocked Jordan's schemes, claimed that he was never allowed to be a leader and even referred to him as "the last coach."

"You think it bothers me," Jordan asked the Washington Post. "It doesn't bother me, disappoint me. Gilbert is a wonderful person. I know Gilbert personally and I know him professionally. He's a heck of a competitor, one of the top players in the league when he's healthy. He did a lot for the franchise. He did a lot for me as a coach.

"Even in professional sports, there is a human side and I think Gilbert is a terrific human being," he added. "I would assume he said some things professionally and you cannot let that affect you."

Wizards center Brendan Haywood was back on the practice court Saturday after spraining his ankle more than a week ago.

"The ankle feels pretty good. Just trying to go out there, get in the flow of things," Haywood told the Washington Times. "I probably lost a little bit of conditioning being out five days, but I'll be fine."

Haywood says that he has no limitations from the injury and is expected to play on Monday night against the Hawks.

It has been two years since DeShawn Stevenson called LeBron James "overrated," but the city of Cleveland hasn't forgotten.

"I hate you," Stevenson told the Washington Post that an airport attendant told him when he touched down in Cleveland last week. "I won't cuss, but I said something to him," Stevenson said.

He was booed after he hit both of his three-pointers in Washington's 109-104 exhibition win over Cleveland last week.

"It's crazy how it's still going on," Stevenson said. "Even if I'm in a different jersey, it's still going to have that effect and I'm going to bring that rivalry somewhere else, because this team don't like me."