(My Sportsbook) - The Washington Wizards welcomed their star back to the hardwood last night in the nation's capital. Now they hope to celebrate Gilbert Arenas' return with a win when they take on the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse.

"Agent Zero" was no hero on Saturday. Richard Hamilton trumped the return of Arenas by scoring 31 points to lift Detroit to a much-needed 98-96 victory over the Wizards.

Arenas suited up for the first time in 16 months, as the former All-Star point guard had missed all 73 games this season and played in only 13 affairs in 2007-08 after undergoing three surgeries on his left knee over an 18-month span.

On Saturday, the seven-year veteran netted 15 points on 3-of-12 shooting while handing out 10 assists, but his potential game-winning three-pointer in the waning seconds was blocked by former Wizard Kwame Brown.

"I felt fine," Arenas said. "They were playing off me a little bit and I shot some jumpers. When I drove I missed some layups. I got to get used to getting hit again and getting into the lanes."

Arenas is not expected to play Sunday in order to rest his knee.

Caron Butler (hamstring) also returned from a seven-game absence to chip in 11 points and 10 rebounds last night, while Antawn Jamison ended with a team-high 21 points in Washington's sixth loss in seven games.

The Pacers, meanwhile, fell in the Windy City on Saturday when Ben Gordon had 25 points and John Salmons 22, with six of Chicago's seven three-pointers between them, as the Bulls defeated Indiana, 112-106.

Danny Granger dropped 32 points and Brandon Rush netted 29 for the Pacers, who had won two in a row following a five-game losing streak. Jeff Foster hauled in a game-high 18 rebounds and scored seven in the loss.

Indiana, which is 5 1/2 games off the final playoff spot in the East, was aiming for its first three-game winning streak since November 8-12 this season.

Washington, which is a miserable 5-31 away from the Verizon Center this season, has lost four in a row on the road. The Pacers, meanwhile, are a solid 20-14 at Conseco Fieldhouse.