Arenas, Wizards dispose of Timberwolves

Caron Butler added a double-double for the Wizards, who snapped a two-game skid, with 19 points and 12 boards. Antawn Jamison recorded 10 points and eight rebounds in the win.

Washington was behind by 17 points after the opening quarter and trailed by as many as 19 in the second before rallying.

"We took daggers early, but we knew if we stayed with it, we would come back," Arenas said. "We just kept going at them, kept fighting, and believed in each other."

Ricky Davis tallied 25 points for the Timberwolves, who lost for the fifth time in their past six outings. Kevin Garnett contributed just 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Justin Reed scored 10 points off the bench in the loss.

"Every game, our momentum slows down when our opponents go into a zone," Garnett said. "We couldn’t get into our breaks, and they got a lot more aggressive, and it was bad from there on."

Down by seven entering the final frame, the ’Wolves scored six of the fourth quarter’s first seven points to tighten things up. Reed’s lay-in capped the mini-run and made the score 71-69 with just over 10 minutes left.

Arenas responded by scoring seven straight points for the Wizards over the next three minutes to give the home team some breathing room at 78-71. The All-Star guard drained a jumper, hit a pair of free throws and nailed a triple, while Minnesota could manage only a Davis jumper during the flurry.

Washington continued to hold the Timberwolves at arm’s length. Jamison’s long three with 2:55 left on the clock gave the Wizards an 82-74 cushion.

Brendan Haywood and Antonio Daniels followed with a pair of free throws each to put Washington on top by 12, 86-74, with 1:54 on the clock.

The ’Wolves did not threaten down the stretch as Washington cruised to their eighth consecutive home win.

Minnesota buried six of their first seven shots and raced out to a 12-0 lead. The ’Wolves continued to dominate the opening stanza and finished the first 12 minutes with a 32-15 edge.

Minnesota took its biggest advantage, 36-17, early in the second quarter but the Wizards answered and finished the frame with an impressive 29-5 run.

Washington’s oppressive defense held the Timberwolves to just one field goal over the final nine minutes of the half as the Wizards forged their way to the lead. Washington’s Antonio Daniels’ three-point play with just 0.2 ticks left in the half made the score 46-41 at intermission.

Arenas had 18 points at the break on 9-of-12 from the field. Davis paced Minnesota with 16 on 7-of-11 shooting.

Washington extended their lead to 70-63 after an evenly played third quarter.

Game Notes

Arenas has scored 30+ points in 25 games this season...Washington, which will visit LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, is 19-9 at home this season...The Timberwolves, who will start a two-game homestand against Denver on Friday, are 8-18 away from home this season...The Timberwolves have now dropped seven of their last 10 games in Washington.