Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas said yesterday that his strained lower abdomen would sideline him through at least the Feb. 13-15 all-star break, forcing him to miss the next 15 games Steve Wyche from the Washington Post reports. Arenas, has already missed 15 of 35 games because of the injury, which is more of a groin injury.

"I can't keep fighting the pain and performing like I am out there," said Arenas. "We're losing games because of it. I'm going to have to sit out. It's like a scab and I was picking the scab every time I played. Now we're just going to let it heal."

Swingman Jerry Stackhouse (preseason right knee surgery), who was expected to pair with Arenas to form a high-powered scoring tandem but has not played all season, is scheduled to be examined by his New York-based surgeon when the Wizards travel to New Jersey on Wednesday. The results could help determine Stackhouse's return.