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Arenas sparks huge run as Wizards win third straight

Nov 17, 2007 - 4:52 AM MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Gilbert Arenas' knee appears to be just fine, and that is bad news for opposing teams.

Arenas scored 27 points and sparked a huge fourth-quarter run to lead the Washington Wizards to a 105-89 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.

Caron Butler added 29 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Washington, which snapped a seven-game losing streak here.

Arenas, who has been hampered by his surgically repaired left knee, shot 9-of-19 and scored 10 points during an 18-3 run that helped the Wizards blow open a tie game.

Antawn Jamison scored 14 points for Washington, which capitalized on Minnesota's sloppy play converted 20 turnovers into 29 points.

"Our defense really got it going," Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said. "(Then) Gil got hot. Just 1-on-1 basketball. He still ran the offense. (He) found his way, found his spots like he normally does."

The sixth-year guard scored 30 points with 11 rebounds and six assists in a win over Indiana on Wednesday, and he continued his resurgence against Minnesota.

"Those three guys (Arenas, Butler, Jamison) score on everybody," Minnesota coach Randy Wittman said. "All three are averaging 20 points for a reason. He (Butler) just scored 27 the game before."

Neither team was able to pull away as the Timberwolves held a three-point lead at 74-71 to start the final period. But that all changed in the fourth quarter when they were outscored, 32-15.

"Our defense just fed off of each possession," Jordan said. "At the end, we just got a few steals. Guys who weren't playing so well earlier bounced back and played well."

Arenas tied the game at 81-81 with a 3-pointer at the 6:07 mark and then made consecutive jumpers to put Washington up 85-83 with 5:13 left. A pair of free throws each from Butler and Antonio Daniels made it a six-point game at 89-83 with 4:18 remaining.

After a layup by Brendan Haywood stretched the lead to seven, Arenas hit a back-breaking 3-pointer that put the Wizards ahead, 94-84, with 3:33 remaining.

Rashad McCants scored 19 points and Al Jefferson had 15 for Minnesota, which was held without a field goal for the final 5:23.