Still short of .500

TORONTO — The Washington Wizards have been trying to get back to .500 for two months.

As recently as three weeks ago, they were six games below the threshold of mediocrity before scrapping and clawing their way back. But a shot at .500 got away from them last night in Toronto, where the young-but-talented Raptors dominated the second half and held off a furious late charge for a 117-112 victory over the Wizards at Air Canada Centre.

Gilbert Arenas led the Wizards (21-23) with a game-high 35 points. Antawn Jamison added 22, and Caron Butler contributed 18 as Washington lost for just the fourth time in its last 12 games.

The difference turned out to be a pair of 3-pointers by Mike James, sandwiched around a layup by Arenas, in the final 57.9 seconds. That sequence took place after the Wizards had pulled within 109-108 on a 3-pointer by Arenas with 1:25 left.

James finished with 29 points, hitting 11 of 16 shots, including five of seven 3-pointers. Chris Bosh led the Raptors, who made 54.3 percent of their field goals, with 33 points and 13 rebounds. Bosh was 14-for-19 from the floor, and he scored 20 points in the second half.

Wizards coach Eddie Jordan was particularly upbeat after watching his team put itself in position to win the game with a late 23-6 run. For Jordan, it reminded him of a game Dec. 10 at MCI Center, when the Bulls used a 16-0 stretch late in the fourth quarter for a 118-111 victory at MCI Center.

“It’s just what happens when you’re up 18 points and you think you are going to go home with a win in four more minutes,” Jordan said. “We lost to Chicago like that. It can happen.”

The Wizards whittled away the lead with a small lineup. They used rookie guard Donell Taylor, perhaps the best athlete on the team, as their designated driver. And Taylor did a good job of penetrating and then kicking the ball back outside to the perimeter. And as a result, with Jamison going 4-for-4, the Wizards made five of seven 3-pointers and were right back in the game.

Despite what appeared to be a heart-wrenching loss, the Wizards were optimistic in the aftermath.

“We know we didn’t get it done defensively,” said Jamison, who took responsibility for one of James’ 3s. “It’s just one of those things. A breakdown here and there was the difference. So we’re not sweating it because we know we should have had this game and we can play better.

“They were tough, and they knocked down some tough shots. But to still have an opportunity to win with just over a minute to go is good. And we know that his is not the same team earlier where a loss like this probably would have lasted four of five games.”

Washington is about to play what to this point is the most crucial stretch of its schedule. Beginning with Atlanta on Saturday, the Wizards will play their next five games at MCI Center. They have a chance to get back to .500 for the first time since Dec.6, when they defeated the Raptors 119-111 in overtime to go 8-8.

With 2:08 left, Bosh restored the lead to 109-100 on a three-point play, but a dunk from rookie Andray Blatche, a three-point play from Antonio Daniels and a 3-pointer by Arenas pulled Washington within one with 1:25 left in the game.

But James took over the game with his 3s, the second of which came from the top of the key with 24.4 seconds remaining to give the Raptors (16-30) a 115-110 lead.

“I shoot 100 of these, 100 of these every day, and I believe in myself 100 percent because I do the work,” James said. “I believe that if I can’t carry over what I do in practice over to the game, there’s no point in me being in the NBA.”

For one night, the Wizards probably wouldn’t argue with him.