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Tuesday, Jan. 2 7:00pm ET
Wizards' Lopez scores career-high 26

RECAP | BOX SCORE | 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.

Kevin Garnett
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.
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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