Butler scores 38 as Wizards top SuperSonics

Brendan Haywood scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Wizards, who snapped a two-game skid with the win. Gilbert Arenas had a rare off night, scoring 16 points on 4-of-14 shooting, but doled out nine assists in the win. DeShawn Stevenson also scored 15 points, and Andray Blatche added 14 points and seven boards for the Wizards.

Ray Allen poured in 29 points, tallied seven assists and grabbed seven boards for Seattle, which lost its fifth in a row, and has now dropped a franchise- worst 15 straight on the road. Chris Wilcox scored 24 and totaled 10 boards. Luke Ridnour and Johan Petro added 13 points and 12 points, respectively, off the bench.

The Wizards took control of the game with a 14-0 run that bridged the final two quarters.

With the game tied at 79 late in the third quarter, Washington scored nine straight in the last 1:20. A Blatche jumper with two seconds left gave Washington an 85-79 lead, and Butler stole the ensuing inbound pass and made a three at the buzzer to put the Wizards up 88-79.

The 14-point stretch was capped in the opening minute of the fourth quarter by a Blatche three-point play, and then a steal and an Arenas’ dunk put Washington ahead 93-79 with 11:33 left.

Seattle could not slow the Wizards surge down the stretch, and the Washington lead ballooned to 18 points, at 107-89, with just over 5 1/2 minutes left.

A Petro layup and a Ridnour three put the Sonics up 31-26 with 39 seconds left in the first half. A Blatche dunk with 31 seconds left made it 31-28, however, and Stevenson drilled a three at the buzzer to send the teams into the second quarter knotted at 31.

Seattle led 59-56 at halftime.

Game Notes

The Seattle bench outscored Washington’s, 35-23...Blatche’s 14 points marked a career-high, and Haywood’s 20 points were a season high...Seattle’s last road win came against the LA Clippers, 95-85, back on Nov. 22.