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Young, Wizards top Kings in OT

Jan 12, 2011 - 8:30 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Nick Young poured in a career-best 43-points and John Wall added 22 with nine assists and six rebounds, as Washington lost a late lead in regulation then hung on in overtime to edge Sacramento, 136-133.

Rashard Lewis and Andray Blatche each added 16 points and Kirk Hinrich chipped in with 14 off the bench. Blatche pulled down 13 rebounds, JaVale McGee grabbed 11 to go along with 10 points and Lewis recorded 10 boards, as Washington held a 55-40 edge on the backboards. The Wizards have won two of three overall.

"I just had a lot of confidence," Young said. "After I hit three shots in a row, I just felt like I couldn't miss. It just feels good."

Francisco Garcia and Beno Udrih each posted 26 points and Carl Landry added 23 off the bench for the Kings, who have lost two straight and three of four.

The first three quarters were a case in extremes and the fourth stanza was no different. Wall's 18-foot jumper with just 1:10 remaining put the home team in a comfortable position, 117-109. The margin was again eight points at 119-111 after a pair of Wall free throws with 45.8 seconds to go.

Jermaine Taylor made a layup and Wall answered with two free throws for another eight-point lead, 121-113. Garcia drained a long three and was fouled, converting the four-point play with 34.4 ticks to go. Wall again calmly sank two free throws, and Pooh Jeter made a quick layup for a four-point game, 123-119, with 26.9 seconds left. Again, the Wizards made their free throws with Young sinking a pair, but after DeMarcus Cousins missed two free throws, Young stepped out of bounds. Taylor then slammed one home, and another Washington turnover led to a Garcia layup and subsequent free throw for a 125-124 game with 11 ticks to go.

Young made just 1-of-2 free throws at the other end, his only miss in nine attempts, and Jeter converted a layup with 3.6 seconds. Wall, off a high screen, bobbled the ball and missed a forced elbow jumper at the buzzer, leading to overtime.

Washington had the upper hand for the entire extra session. Young's trey gave the home team a 131-128 lead and the advantage grew to 135-130 on Hinrich's mid-range jumper with 28.7 seconds left. Garcia was inexplicably fouled on a three-pointer and made all three for a two-point margin, and Al Thorton left the door open by missing a free throw with three seconds to go. However, Cousins wild three from the corner hit the side of the backboard to seal the outcome.

"It was quite exciting if you like offense," Kings head coach Paul Westphal said. "Neither team could stop the other one."

The Wizards reeled off 13 straight points in a big first period, concluding the stretch with Young's jumper for a 21-8 edge. Washington made a torrid 71.4 percent of its shots in the period and jumped out to a 38-19 lead.

In a complete reversal of the first period, Sacramento scored 12 straight points to cut a 19-point deficit to 40-33 on Udrih's three-pointer with just over seven minutes to play in the half. The Kings keep their foot on Washington's throat, roaring out to a six-point edge at 56-50 lead in the period and taking a 56-54 lead into the half. Sacramento made almost 67 percent of its shots in outscoring the Wizards, 37-16.

The Wizards outscored the Kings, 40-27, in the third but things unraveled late in the fourth, resulting in the overtime finish.

Game Notes

Washington made 49.5 percent of its shots and 33-of-39 free throws. Sacramento connected on 49.1 percent of its shots and 20-of-25 from the line...Young's previous career-high was 33 points on January 14, 2009 versus New York...The Wizards posted a season-best point total and a season-high 40 points in the third period...Landry's 23 points were a season high...Jeter dished out 11 assists, a new career high.