"Gilbert Arenas' severely strained abdomen is far worse than originally thought and is likely to keep the Washington Wizards point guard and leading scorer out "for at least a few weeks, maybe even longer," a source with knowledge of the situation said last night."

Guard Mitchell Butler has been activated off the injured list to replace him.

"Wizards doctors will examine (Gilbert) Arenas (out with strained lower abdominal muscles) for the first time before tonight's game. The results could lead to a timetable for his return, although Arenas, the team's leading scorer, has said that while he is sore, he plans on being back within two weeks."

WASHINGTON (AP) The Washington Wizards placed point guard Gilbert Arenas on the injured list Tuesday because of a severe abdominal sprain.

Arenas, injured Sunday at Seattle, will miss at least five games. He is averaging 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists.

Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas is not expected to play in the team's final two games of this Western Conference trip because of a lower abdominal injury suffered in Sunday's loss to the Seattle SuperSonics, but whether Arenas will miss additional games is still in question. Arenas was given an MRI exam Monday morning at a Seattle medical facility but results were not available as of Monday evening.

Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas left before the final five minutes of last night's 88-85 loss to the Seattle Supersonics at Key Arena with an lower abdominal strain.

"Arenas, the Wizards' leading scorer (21.3 points per game) who signed a six-year, $64 million free agent contract last summer, is not expected to play in the final two games of Washington's four-game, Western Conference trip and could be out longer."

CLEVELAND (AP) Cavaliers forward Carlos Boozer did not travel with the team for Wednesday night's game against the Washington Wizards because of a sprained right ankle.

Boozer rolled his ankle during the first quarter of Tuesday night's 103-95 win over the Los Angeles Clippers and did not return.

In his second year out of Duke, Boozer is averaging 12.1 points and a team-leading 10.5 rebounds. As a rookie, he averaged 10 points and 7.5 rebounds.

The Cavaliers listed him as day-to-day.

After facing the Wizards, the Cavaliers host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.

"Brendan Haywood likely will make his second straight start tonight when the Washington Wizards visit the Atlanta Hawks. Christian Laettner, who replaced Haywood in the starting lineup Nov. 5 against Dallas, remains plagued by back spasms, which sidelined him for Washington's 95-71 loss to San Antonio on Saturday and allowed Haywood to regain his starting job."

Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas found little consolation yesterday when the NBA announced that Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert was administered a stage one flagrant foul (no fine) for elbowing Arenas in the mouth in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's 112-105 loss to Philadelphia. No infraction was called during the game, leaving Arenas bleeding, swollen and highly agitated.

"Gilbert Arenas's lip was bloodied, his temper a few degrees below boiling. His counterpart, the 76ers' Allen Iverson, was cool and clutch. And despite the Washington guard's gaudy stat line -- season-high 36 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds -- Iverson trumped him, not only by scoring 40, but by making every free throw Philadelphia needed in a gritty, hard-fought 112-105 win last night before 17,841 at MCI Center."

WASHINGTON (AP) Allen Iverson had a season-high 40 points Tuesday night, winning a scoring duel with Gilbert Arenas and leading Philadelphia to a 112-105 victory over Washington.

Arenas scored a season-high 36 points in a game featuring two of the most exciting guards in the Eastern Conference.

Iverson had more than his share of misses _ 12-for-29 from the field _ but he never stopped shooting, and made 14 of 18 free throws. The 76ers went 24-for-26 from the line in the second half.

Arenas was 11-for-24 from the field, but was just 3-of-11 in the second half and fouled out in the final seconds.

The 76ers played without starters Glenn Robinson (sprained ankle) and Kenny Thomas (bruised back), and Derrick Coleman didn't play the second half because of the strained left knee.

Celtics 78, Pacers 76

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Vin Baker hit a fallaway jumper in the lane with 20 seconds left to lift Boston past Indiana.

Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 19 points, nine assists and six rebounds, and Baker had 12 points and four rebounds.

Jermaine O'Neal had 25 points and 11 rebounds for Indiana. The Pacers lost for the first time in six games to drop to 6-2.

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