Gilbert Arenas thanked the refs. Eddie Jordan, a master of understatement, said, “I can’t ever remember seeing a game end like that.” As the Washington Times’ Tom “Tie The” Knott (In A Mass Wedding) explains, the Wizards’ 107-106 O.T. win over Golden State ended with the following sequence.

Don Nelson had every right to be livid after referee Tony Brothers called a foul on Mickael Pietrus that sent Gilbert Arenas to the free throw line with one-tenth of a second left on Fun Street yesterday.

Nelson had every right to wonder whether it was a makeup call after Al Harrington was granted two free throws because of an egregious call against Caron Butler with 2.9 seconds left.

Nelson had every right to make an R-rated assessment of the bizarre situation after going out onto the court to confront Brothers.

“Tony, you’re a [bleeping] idiot,” Nelson said.

Crew chief Derrick Stafford should have ignored Nelson’s outburst and returned the game to the players.

Instead, he imposed a technical foul on Nelson, which led to the game being decided at the foul line.

Arenas converted all three free throw attempts as the Wizards defeated the Warriors 107-106 and avoided losing to an inferior opponent yet again.

There’s also the matter of whether or not there was any time left on the clock before Arena’s final shot.

Just because Isiah Thomas tried to play doctor with Anucha Browne Sanders, that doesn’t mean he isn’t entitled to have a valid medical opinion regarding Stevie Franchise’s miraculous recovery. There’s not nearly as much hardcore scientific insight from Zeke regarding Jamal Crawford’s injury, mind you, but as most hospital soap opera viewers can tell you (hello, Stephen A.!) the doc can’t save everyone.

The Fanhouse’s Matt Watson links to a Chris McCosky post claiming Rasheed Wallace was banished from the Pistons bench Friday night for violating the league’s dress code. Incredibly, Flip Saunders is allowed to stalk the sidelines using Rudy Tomjanovich’s head, and no one says “boo”.

Peter Vescey in the Post this morning on the NBA’s oldest active player :

Mutombo – (allegedly) 41 this June 25 – pulled down 22 re bounds in 33 minutes in the Rockets’ 108-97 road win at Denver Friday. Thus, he became the oldest player in league history to grab at least 20 boards in a game, 45 years to the day Wilt Chamberlain tattooed the Knicks for 100 points.

Wilt often told me his fondest memory of that remarkable evening was securing the autograph of esteemed veteran Dikembe Mutombo.