WASHINGTON — John Wall scored 21 points and equaled a career high with 17 assists and Rasual Butler had 23 points as the Washington Wizards won their fifth game in a row, 109-95 over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night.
Washington scored 14 straight to take a 14-2 lead less than 4½ minutes into the game. Wall had 10 points and six assists in the first quarter.
Thaddeus Young, who led a third-quarter charge, had a season-high 29 points for Minnesota, which has lost nine of 10. Shabazz Muhammad had 21.
Foul shooting badly hurt the Timberwolves. They shot just 20 for 35, and missed 10 of 14 in the first half as they trailed 46-36.
Young led Minnesota back in the second half, scoring 19 points in the third quarter, shooting 9 for 10 from the field. The Wizards led 74-69 after three.
Butler led Washington with 18 fourth-quarter points as it pulled away pulled away early in the quarter. They led by 89-75 with 8:43 to play.
The Wizards are 18-6. They’re 12 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 1978-79 season.
TIP-INS
Timberwolves: C Ronny Turiaf was declared out for the season after arthroscopic surgery on his right hip. … With three starters, G Ricky Rubio (ankle), C Nikola Pekovic (foot, wrist) and G Kevin Martin (wrist) out indefinitely, the Wolves are expected to ask for an injury waiver for an additional player. … G Mo Williams returned after missing six games with back spasms and scored six points in 15 minutes.
Wizards: F Paul Pierce missed his first game of the season with a sore right toe. Otto Porter made his first career start in his place. … Coach Randy Wittman faced his friend Flip Saunders, having replaced him in January 2012. Wittman isn’t surprised that Saunders is back coaching after spending last year in Minnesota’s front office. “He’s a coach. He’s a lifer,” Wittman said. “That’s who he is.”
UP NEXT
Timberwolves: At Celtics on Friday.
Wizards: At Miami on Friday.
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