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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Washington Wizards' first winning streak
of the season was a team effort.
Felipe Lopez scored a career-high 26 points and Chris Whitney
had a season-high 13 assists as the Wizards beat the Minnesota
Timberwolves 115-108 Tuesday night.
|  | | Washington's Obinna Ekezie isn't quite quick enough to alter Kevin Garnett's shot. |
Washington won two in a row for the first time since beating the
Celtics in Boston on March 31 and New Jersey at home on April 4,
2000 -- a stretch of 39 games.
"We are trying to maintain an even keel because we still have a
lot more basketball to play," Wizards coach Leonard Hamilton said.
"We still have a lot of room for improvement, but to say that this
was a team victory would be kind of an understatement.
"These guys still are extremely determined that we are going to
turn our season around, and I am so happy for them."
Kevin Garnett led Minnesota with 31 points on 11-for-24
shooting, but he made only four of 12 shots in the second half.
"They outshot us at the free-throw line," Garnett said. "Any
time a team gets 40 free throws and you only get 16, you really
have no chance. Regardless of all that, we stayed in the game and
had a chance to win at the end."
LaPhonso Ellis scored 15 of his season-high 21 points in the
fourth quarter to keep the Timberwolves close. His putback with
9:59 remaining pulled Minnesota to 85-83, but the Timberwolves
never got closer.
"We scored enough points to win the ball game," Ellis said.
"We just didn't get it done on the defensive end."
Juwan Howard, who scored a season-high 35 points Sunday night
against Detroit, finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and five
assists, despite playing with the flu.
"Howard has been playing the best he's played since he
re-signed back here," Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said.
"He's playing with a lot of confidence right now, and Chris
Whitney is doing a great job."
"A lot of stuff is getting run through me first," Howard said
of his offensive outburst. "All that does is give you more
confidence.
"It's all about touches. I've already showed that I can score
in this league. If I get the ball, I'm going to make something
positive happen."
Lopez hit 10 of 13 shots and grabbed six rebounds. Richard
Hamilton scored 16 points in 29 minutes in a reserve role and
forward Tyrone Nesby added 15 points. Center Calvin Booth, starting
for injured Jahidi White, had 10 rebounds, eight points and five
blocks.
"We have chemistry right now," Lopez said. "We miss those
guys -- Mitch Richmond, Jahidi White and Rod Strickland. We all have
to step up. I'm getting the opportunities I'm supposed to be
getting now. We've got two in a row, now we've got to keep it
rolling."
Lopez hit a desperation 3-pointer as the shot clock wound down
to give the Wizards a 99-92 lead with 4:27 left.
"Felipe was very aggressive tonight, and we need that from
him," said Whitney, who scored 14 points and committed only three
turnovers in his fourth consecutive start in place of the injured
Strickland. "He got out on the wing and ran the break."
The Wizards hit 12 consecutive free throws in the final two
minutes to secure the victory.
"This team has always been known to play hard," Garnett said
of the Wizards. "We didn't come into this game thinking if we get
up by 10 or 20 we're cool. This team fights to the end and they
play till the buzzer goes off."
Ellis scored 10 consecutive points as Minnesota pulled to 85-83
with 9:59 remaining in the game. Howard answered with six straight
as Washington took a 91-83 lead with 7:53 left.
Terrell Brandon had 16 points and seven assists for Minnesota.
Game notes
Wizards point guard Rod Strickland missed his second
consecutive game because of sore hamstrings. . . Former world
heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe was in the crowd of 11,712 at MCI
Center.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Minnesota Clubhouse
Washington Clubhouse
Strickland sighting: Point guard returns to Wizards
RECAPS
Washington 115
Minnesota 108
Atlanta 92
Boston 81
Houston 100
Cleveland 95
New Jersey 120
Orlando 110
Milwaukee 104
Chicago 70
San Antonio 80
Miami 72
Indiana 91
Seattle 83
LA Clippers 110
Toronto 97
Sacramento 121
Phoenix 117
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Kevin Garnett Official Site
Juwan Howard Official Site
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