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By Mike Jones (Contact) | Thursday, January 8, 2009

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SEEN AND HEARD AT VERIZON CENTER

Washington Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson, who has missed the last four games with a pinched nerve in his back, received an epidural shot Wednesday morning to relieve pressure on the nerve, which is being pinched by a disk that is slightly misaligned. The injury has limited the guard's movements while sending shooting pains up and down his legs.

On Friday in Boston, Stevenson said he expected to miss roughly 2 1/2 weeks, and the team confirmed Wednesday that he will be out at least another two weeks.

"He has truly been a real warrior this year for this team because that's been bothering him for a while," coach Ed Tapscott said. "He's wanted to play because he said he didn't want to leave while his teammates were struggling. I miss his versatility. I miss his presence on the floor, but we want to get him healthy and get him back so he can contribute as before, which was in many, many ways."

After averaging 11.1 points a game the past three seasons, Stevenson has struggled this season, averaging just 6.9 points on 31.8 percent shooting, including 28.2 percent from 3-point range. He had battled nerve damage in his legs - which last week he learned was because of the disk trouble - since training camp. Stevenson, before removing himself from the starting lineup Dec. 23, had started 275 straight games, the second-longest consecutive streak at the time. ...

Saturday night's home game against the Charlotte Bobcats will feature Caron's Coat Giveaway, in which any fan bringing a gently used or brand-new child's coat will receive a free voucher to a future game.

- Mike Jones

QUOTABLE

"I've watched it more times than you can imagine, and it never got better."

- Wizards coach Ed Tapscott on his team's franchise-worst six-point second quarter Tuesday night against Orlando

BY THE NUMBERS

$20 For a pair of lower-bowl seats - which normally have a face value of $88 each - on ticketliquidator.com for Wednesday night's Wizards game, which drew an announced crowd of only 13,864 at 20,173-seat Verizon Center.

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