The Washington Wizards held their first players-only meeting of the season yesterday and Coach Eddie Jordan met separately with guard Gilbert Arenas to clear the air as the team sought to regroup in the aftermath of a humiliating 21-point loss to the Portland Trail Blazers that ended with Jordan and his star guard criticizing each other through the media.

Injured forward Antawn Jamison, who has missed five games with a left knee sprain, said he took Arenas aside Sunday and rebuked him for remarks in which he blamed the loss on Jordan's pregame emphasis on defense.

"Oh, I talked to him," Jamison said yesterday. "It's like a little brother. Every now and then you have to spank 'em on the [rear]. I put him in the closet and gave him a whipping last night."