Washington Wizards Team Report - November 24

(Basketball News) - The Washington Wizards lost Sunday in Seattle to the SuperSonics, 88-85.

The Wizards were led by Juan Dixon and Kwame Brown, who scored 17 apiece in defeat. Dixon posted 13 points in the fourth quarter for Washington, which posted just 12 points in each of the first two quarters for a franchise-low 24 first-half points

The pace picked up in the second half, and Seattle carried a 60-52 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Wizards opened the final stanza on an 11-2 run, however, and pulled ahead on Dixon’s three at 9:30. It was their first lead since the opening quarter, but it didn’t last.

Seattle came right back and took the lead at the other end on Ronald Murray’s bucket. Back-and-forth scoring ensued until the Wizards used an 8-2 spurt later in the frame to take a 76-71 advantage.

Washington looked to extend its lead, but Gilbert Arenas was injured on a spin move in the lane, and Seattle turned a steal on the play into a bucket at the other end, pulling within 76-73 with 4:44 to play.

That sparked a 13-4 burst that put the Sonics up for good. Vladimir Radmanovic’s three at 1:57 capped the flurry and gave Seattle an 84-80 edge. It was free throws from there on out for the Sonics, who drained 4-of-6 from the line down the stretch to ice the win.

The Wizards play the third of a four-game road trip in Portland on Tuesday.