It was close.... but the Wizards fall to 0-5 with a 89-85 loss to the Pacers in Indianapolis.

Emeka Okafor and Bradley Beal led Washington with 17 points apiece, while A.J. Price continues to develop at the point, scoring a dozen points and dishing out a career high 14 assists.

"We're right there again," Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. "Just kind of the little things in games like this.. We didn't close out the second quarter. I think it was 47-40 and we have to come with a lead. We give them the last shot when we should have taken the last shot. We shoot too soon and they come down and hit a 3. There's three more points that they shouldn't have."

The Wizards get a couple of days off, returning to action on Tuesday night in Charlotte against the Bobcats.

Plenty of anticipation in College Park for basketball this season and the Terps certainly didn't disappoint in their opener. Although they came up short by a 72-69 count, Maryland gave #3 Kentucky all it could handle.

Alex Len capped a huge night with a three point play with nine seconds left cutting the defending national champions lead to 70-69, but that was as close as they would get. The seven foot sophomore finished with 23 points and a dozen rebounds, both career highs.

A sellout crowd of nearly 18,000 packed the brand new Barclays Center in Brooklyn, with most cheering for the Terps and head coach Mark Turgeon.

"We weren't very good in the first half and I thought Kentucky was great," Turgeon said. "We weren't ready for the big stage but in the second half we executed better."

Maryland was ice cold shooting the ball in the first half, a frigid 13 of 44 from the floor. coming up empty on all eleven three point attempts. The Wildcats took advantage and held a 49-36 lead at intermission. The Terps shots started falling in the second half in a big way and Maryland owned Kentucky on the boards. The Terps outrebounded UK by a 54-38 margin, including 28-13 on the offensive end.

Maryland received a boost this week when transfer Dez Wells won an appeal with the NCAA, allowing the former Xavier star to play immediately, without having to sit out the season. Under normal circumstances, athletes must sit out a season when transferring among Division-1 schools. Wells had some legal troubles in Cincinnati, but they never found their way to court, making for a less than typical case. Wells was only 2-12 from the floor against UK, but his addition greatly increases the chances that the Terrapins will return to the NCAA tournament in March.

The Terps host Morehead State in their home opener on Monday night at the Comcast Center.

The Wizards are still seeking their first win of the 2012-'13 season, falling to Milwaukee, 101-91 at the Verizon Center.

Top draft pick Bradley Beal had his finest day as a pro, scoring 22 points, but it wasn't enough to keep the Bucks from improving to 3-1 on the season.

Washington continues to play without injured stars John Wall and Nene, but Beal insists the club is not discouraged.

"That's one thing that we most definitely try to avoid," the No. 3 overall pick in the June draft said. "I mean, once we get that, we hang our heads low, then we come out sluggish, and then teams really start beating us. And then we just get into the `I don't care anymore' mode."

Trevor Ariza showed signs of life for the Wizards, scoring 15 points, while pulling down eight rebounds and dishing out four assists.

The Wizards with back to back games, on the road tonight against the Pacers in Indianapolis.

According to CBS Sports, the Washington Nationals have interest in free agent CF Michael Bourn.  That news is hardly surprising.  It seems for two solid off-seasons, the Nationals have been linked to Braves center fielder.

The Nationals have longed to get a speedy center fielder to secure the middle of the out field and hold the leadoff spot for a few season.  They made do this season by putting rookie stud Bryce Harper in center.  However, there is little doubt that Washington still covets a speedy center fielder so they can move Harper to right field. 

In Tim Dierkes Top 50 free agent list, he lists the Nationals as the favorite to land the Atlanta outfielder. 

3.  Michael Bourn - Nationals.  The speedy Bourn plays strong center field defense and gets on base just enough.  The free agent market generally rewards power, but these days Bourn's skillset is appreciated as well.  Bourn has long been speculated as the heir apparent to the Nationals' center field job, and the team's comfort with agent Scott Boras doesn't hurt.  Still, this match is far from a lock if we're talking Torii Hunter 2007 money.  I don't expect the Braves to re-sign Bourn, but the Phillies are another potential match.

The Nationals and Manager Davey Johnson are closing in on a new contract. General Manager Mike Rizzo says the new contract will be finished "soon".Rizzo is in California at MLB's General Manager meetings.The 69 year old Johnson who was under contract as a consultant through 2014, says he will be patient through negotiations. Selected as the National League's Manager of the Year by the Sporting News, Johnson led the Nationals to the National League East crown this season.

I was a guest on NewsTalk with Bruce DePuyt on News Channel 8 this week to discuss the Redskins. Have a look...

Huge news for Maryland basketball as the NCAA has ruled that transfer guard Dez Wells can play immediately.

Wells first request for eligibility had been denied by the NCAA.

"We're excited for Dez, because at the end of the day, the NCAA made the right decision," said basketball coach Mark Turgeon, according to the university's website. "Our staff did an incredible job in putting this NCAA waiver appeal together on Dez's behalf. Dez has been a welcomed addition, a great teammate, and has made a seamless transition in getting acclimated to our campus.This has been a long process for him and his family, and we're grateful he can put it behind him and focus on being a student-athlete at the University of Maryland."

Wells was selected Freshman of the year in the A-10 at Xavier last season, averaging nearly ten points and five rebounds per game. The addition of Wells greatly strengthens Maryland on the perimeter and gives them ten scholarship players eligible for the 2012-'13 season.

The Washington Wizards fought back from double digit deficits in the first and second halves of the game tonight, but a flurry of turnovers by Kevin Seraphin and Martell Webster during the final momnets of regulation allowed the Celtics to force overtime and it was no contest in the extra period. Boston's increasingly physical defensive play, which was not punished by the referees and for which Washington had no answer, spelled doom for the Wizards tonight. Boston shot 27 more free throws than the Wizards tonight, the largest disparity in an NBA game this year.

The Celtics dominated ovrtime and won the game 100-94. Washington fell to 0-3 with the loss. 

After the Celtics took an 86-84 lead on the basis of several Wizards turnovers and converted Boston foul shots, the Wizards put the ball in from out of bounds, looking to tie the game. Chris Singleton was fouled away from the ball and since the Celtics were in the penalty, Singleton went to the line for two free throws. Despite his spotty record as a free throw shooter, Singelton calmly sank both shots to tie the game at 86 with 33.1 seconds left.

Boston called time out and put the ball in from Washington's side of the court. Rajon Rondo faked a drive into the lane, backed off and easily sank an 17-foot jump shot over the hapless A.J Price. The shot gave Boston an 88-86 lead with 26.4 seconds left. Washington called a timeout and took the ball in from their own side of the court. Singleton took a pass from Price at the three point line and faked a pass to the baseline. When his defender left, Singleton charged the basket and threw down a vicious one-handed dunk over Kevin Garnett, who did not want to commit a foul. The dunk tied the game at 88, with Singleton scoring 12 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter. 

Boston took the ball back with 9.4 seconds left and Jeff Green passed the ball into Rondo in the front court. Rondo never passed, holding the ball until just before the buzzer before launching a 3-pointer. The shot bounced off the side of the rim to send the game to overtime. Rondo made a mistake on that play. With the Wizards already in the penalty, he should have driven to the bucket and dared the Wiz to play him tough and possibly send him or another Celtic player to the line. 

The teams traded missed shots before AJ Price hit a runner in the lane and Garnett dropped a midrange jumper to tie the game at 90. Price then missed a hideous 3-pont shot and then fouled Rondo as he drove to the hoop. Price then left Rondo wide open for a jumper at the top of the key and Rondo made him pay, putting the Celtics up 92-90. Martell Webster countered with a falling away baseline jumper to tie the game at 92. Brandon Bass responded by driving to the lane and drawing a foul to get to the line. Bass made only one free throw, giving Boston a one point lead. 

Bradley Beal drove to the baseline and threw the ball away, giving Boston the ball with a one point lead. Brandon Bass took a pass in the paint, scored quickly for the three point lead and Washington called time out. Boston led 95-92 with 1:51 left in overtime, having made their last three shots from the field. 

After the timeout, Beal chucked an airball 3-pointer and then Price kicked the ball to give a shaky Boston possession new life. Garnett missed a midrange jumper and the Wiz got the rebound with just over one minute to play. Price was tripped by Garnett as he received a pass, Garnett's fifth foul. Beal dished to Singleton in the paint, who threw up another airball from point blank range. The Celtics got the ball, pushed it up the court quickly and Brandon Bass put in the layup to give Boston the commanding 97-92 lead. It was all but over. 

Seraphin missed a jump hook from 10 feet and Singleton fouled Paul Pierce on the rebound. The Celtics committed a five second violation trying to get the ball in bounds, giving the ball back to Washington with no damage done. However,with only 24.1 second left, Washington had little hope.

Beal missed a long three pointer, Seraphin grabbed the rebound and missed a 12-footer and then the Beal pushed Garnett from behind on the rebound, sending Garnett to the line with 13.9 second left. Garnett calmly sank both free throws to give Washington a 99-92 lead. Boston outscored Washington 11-4 in the overtime by that point. 

Washington then turned the ball over on the in bounds pass and the Wizards, for some reason, fouled Paul Pierce with five seconds to play, enabling Pierce to pad his stats a bit. Pierce made one of two to stretch the lead to 100-92. Beal came down and made an uncontesed layup, ending the game at 100-94. Boston improves to 2-2 on the season, with both wins coming against the Wizards. 

Chris Singleton played very well, particularly in the fourth quarter, finishing with 14 points [6-10 FG], 5 rebounds and three steals. Martell Webster added 16 points and 6 rebounds to go with some tough defense in 35 minutes. 

Kevin Seraphin got the better of Kevin Garnett when the two tangled in the last game, but Garnett got his revenge tonight. Seraphin got 16 points and 9 rebounds, but he required 19 shots to do it and he committed 6 turnovers; a very inefficient night. Garnett was prepared for him this time and it wasn't much of a contest between them. Seraphin had a few moment, but I thought Garnett clearly outplayed him, finishing with 20 points and 13 rebounds. 

Starting center Emeka Okafor scored only two points and grabbed one rebound in a measly 11 minutes. It is fair to wonder why Okafor was acquired and why he is being paid so lavishly if he is clearly not regarded as an important part of the team. The other player who came over in the offseason trade, Trevor Ariza, continued to build houses with bricks, missing 5 of 6 shots and contributing almost nothing to the team...again. 

AJ Price and Bradley Beal scored 31 points between them and got almost all the minutes in the backcourt tonight. It was Beal's best game and he looked like a real NBA player tonight, albeit one prone to lots of rookie mistakes and not to be trusted in crunch time. Jamal Crawford was clearly injured tonight and played only 15 minutes. 

Wizards Player of the Game: Chris Singleton: 14 points, 5  Reb, 3 steals

Wizards Goat of the Game: Kevin Seraphin: 16 points, 8-19 FG, 9 Reb, 6 TO

PHOTO: Glenn Burke/US Presswire

The 8 Washington Nationals prospects continue chugging along in the Arizona Fall League.  The Nats players are assigned to the Salt River Rafters.  The Rafters are in first place with a 12-10 record.  How are the Nats prospects faring? 

3B Anthony Rendon:  Rendon was the Nationals top pick of the 2011 MLB Draft, the sixth overall draft choice.  Rendon was slated to be a top 3 draft pick, but slid to sixth on injury concerns.  He did miss all of last season injured.  Slated as the future third baseman in DC, Rendon has been on a tear at the plate, raising his overall batting average to .317.  In 17 games, Rendon has 19 hits in 60 plate appearances, including 7 doubles and a home run.  Rendon has scored 12 runs and driven in 10.  He has a .467 slugging percentage and a .411 on base percentage.  On Tuesday night, Rendon went 3 for 3 with 2 doubles, a stole base and 4 RBI.   After battling through a 2012 injury-laced season, Rendon is enjoying himself again. 

"It's pretty crazy," Rendon said. "It was just one year ago that I got drafted and that was a dream come true. Now I'm living out the dream and playing baseball for a living.

"Where I came from a couple months ago, I was in a cast in rehab. I just needed more time and more at-bats to get comfortable on the baseball field again. To be where I am right now is amazing."

Over his last ten games, Rendon is batting .382 with 5 doubles and 7 RBI.   During that stretch, he has hits in 8 of 10 games and has a multi hit game in 4 of his last 6 games. 

Matthew Skole:  Skole is slumping a bit, having just 1 hit in his last 16 at bats.  Overall, Skole is batting .283 with 3 doubles and 2 home runs.  He has also scored 6 runs and driven in 8 runs and has a .478 slugging percentage.  

Brian Goodwin:    Goodwill is also in a bit of slump, having gone 0 for 16 over his last 4 games.  In 15 games, Goodwin has 15 hits in 55 at bats for a .254 batting average.  He has 4 doubles, 2 triples, and 3 home runs.  He has scored 11 runs, driven in 4 runs, and has a solid slugging percentage of .542. 

Jason Martinson:  Martinson has appeared in 7 games and has 3 hits in 26 at bats for a .115 batting average.  He has two doubles and has scored 2 runs and driven in 4. 

Ryan Perry:  Perry has started 5 games and is 1-0 with a 5.60 ERA.  In 17.2 innings, Perry has allowed 11 runs on 14 hits and 5 walks, while fanning 14 batters.  He has a WHIP of 1.08. 

Paul Demny:  Demny has appeared in 8 games out of the bullpen.  He has allowed 3 runs in 11.2 innings for an ERA of 2.31.  He has allowed 10 hits, 8 walsk, and struck out 7 batters. 

Cole Kimball:  Kimball has appeared in 8 games out of the bullpen and has posted a 3.86 ERA, allowing 4 runs over 9.1 innings.  He has allowed 11 hits and 5 walks with 4 strikeouts. 

Aaron Barrett:  Barrett has appeared in 7 games and has an ERA of 3.38.  In 8 innings, he has allowed 3 runs and 13 hits, but only allowed 1 walk. 

Yesterday I was a guest on NewsTalk with Bruce DePuyt on News Channel 8 to discuss the Washington Redskins. Have a look...