WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) -- Gilbert Arenas nearly had a heroic finish to his first game in almost a year. Instead, it was Kwame Brown - of all people - who blocked Agent Zero's shot in the final seconds.

With 4.5 seconds remaining Saturday and the Washington Wizards trailing by two, Arenas chased down the rebound of his missed own free throw. He whirled to put up a potential game-winning 3-pointer, but former Wizards flop Brown got a hand on the shot.

Caron Butler then grabbed the ball and missed a baseline jumper at the buzzer, and the Detroit Pistons escaped with a 98-96 victory that sent their tenuous playoff hopes - at least temporarily - headed back in the right direction.

Arenas finished with 15 points and 10 assists.

(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)