Washington Wizards head coach Eddie Jordan said he is unsure about when shooting guard Jerry Stackhouse, who has been out since the preseason with arthroscopic right knee surgery, will return.

"I don't know if its going to be a month, two months, two years," Jordan said. "Who knows?"

An unnamed team official said he could be back by the end of January.

WASHINGTON (AP)_ Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas returned to the Washington starting lineup Tuesday night against the Atlanta Hawks, after missing 14 games with an abdominal injury.

The Wizards have lost 11 of 14 without Arenas, who is averaging 20 points and 5.4 assists this season.

Before the game, Washington coach Eddie Jordan said a decision on whether or not Arenas would start would be made right before the opening tip.

``We're not holding back,'' Jordan said. ``If he's ready, he's ready.''

The Wizards activated Arenas minutes later.

The guard seemed confident that he was returning to the lineup.

``It's up to Coach,'' Arenas said before the game. ``Most likely I'll start.''

Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas (strained abdomen) practiced on Monday but whether or not he plays tonight at home against Atlanta might depend on how he feels when he wakes up.

"Practice is the easy part," Arenas said after his first practice in two weeks. "When I wake up in the morning I'll know if I'm ready to play or not. But I'm not going to rush it this time. If I wake up in the morning and I'm not sore, that means I'm ready to play."

Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas, who has missed 13 games this season with strained abdominal muscles, is not expected to make the trip with the team to Chicago for Saturday night's game against the Bulls.

Arenas is expected to practice Sunday and Monday with Tuesday night's home game against the Atlanta Hawks his targeted return date.

However, head coach Eddie Jordan wants him when he is truely ready and that could push his return date to Jan.2 when the Wizards face off with his former team, the Golden State Warriors.

"He did some things as far as rehabilitation on his own [Friday]," Jordan said. "It would be good to have him back but we want him back to be the real Gilbert. We don't want to see the wincing and the moaning and the half physical effort. We want to see him going as hard as he can and as effective as he can be. We have to be very patient and we are."

The Washington Wizards have placed guard Chris Whitney on the injured with a sprained ankle, which he recently suffered during a practice, and activated guard Mitchell Butler(right knee tendinitis).

There is a chance that the Washington Wizards will get one of their two injured stars back next week. The other won't be back until January.

"(Gilbert)Arenas, who came back prematurely from a severely strained abdomen, could return as early as this week. (Jerry)Stackhouse resumed practicing but is still hobbled following arthroscopic knee surgery and won't be back until January."

"Guard Gilbert Arenas, on the injured list with strained abdominal muscles, said he could be back for Washington's Dec. 26 home game against Miami."

"(Washington)Wizards center Brendan Haywood, who is coming off a strong performance against the Utah Jazz (eight points and four rebounds) is questionable for tonight's game (New Jersey) because of a sinus problem. Haywood did not practice yesterday but did make the trip with the Wizards to New Jersey."

NEW YORK (AP) Washington Wizards coach Eddie Jordan was fined $5,000 by the NBA on Tuesday for criticizing the officiating in a loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday night.

The fine was levied by league vice president Stu Jackson.

``I guess we don't get a fair shake,'' Jordan said after an 89-87 loss in which he felt guard Larry Hughes was treated unfairly.

On one play late in the game, Hughes drove the lane and was called for an offensive foul against Kurt Thomas. Hughes later leaned into Thomas trying to draw a foul and did not get a call.

``When 18,000 people and two teams can see obvious calls, how come three guys can't see it,'' Jordan said. ``And you get the same weak excuses every night, 'I didn't see it, I didn't see it.'

``I don't know what reputation Larry Hughes has around the league, he just can't get the proper respect as an NBA player. Something's got to be done about it. Somebody has to do their job a little bit harder.''

Washington Wizards head coach Eddie Jordan can expect to be hearing from the league office any day now after blasting the officiating of the Wizards' 89-87 loss to the New York Knicks last night.

"You talk with officials with respect and you deserve an honest answer," said Jordan, who drew a first-quarter technical foul for arguing with an official. "Everybody's got to do their jobs out there and our guys guy are working hard, but when 18,000 people, players on both teams can see obvious calls. . . . You get the same weak excuses every night, that 'I didn't see it, I didn't see it.' You've got three guys who are supposed to do their jobs."