WASHINGTON, DC – The Washington Wizards have fallen short of capturing a third straight win yet again -- a feat that hasn’t been accomplished by the strained ball club since April 2008 -- and helped snap a three game losing skid for the Boston Celtics in Monday night’s 99-88 loss.

 

Washington (16-31) witnessed a normally poignant team captain, Antawn Jamison, show his frustrations and pick up five fouls in the fourth quarter alone while being held to only eight points total, all made in the first half.

“The Celtics bench was big in the fourth quarter,” said Wizards head coach Flip Saunders.  “I think that in the fourth they got extremely aggressive and we missed a lot of shots around the basket.  There is no question that Antawn was bothered around the basket.  I think that a lot of the guys were frustrated, especially Antawn.  We played hard but we did not play as well as we needed to in the fourth.”

Boston reserves Rasheed Wallace, who finished the game with 14 points and Tony Allen, who finished with 10 points, sparked the 16-4 fourth quarter run that ultimately shut down Washington’s momentum.

“Our offense has been sketchy in the fourth,” said Boston head coach Doc Rivers.  “Our defense has been worse.  Today, I thought both things came through for us.  I told our guys with five minutes left that if we don’t score again we have to win the game.  I thought they had the focus on the defensive end.”

After making it a battle with the Celtics for three solid quarters and heading into the fourth with a four point advantage, the Wizards became their own worst enemy when they were outscored 25-10 and made just 2-of-18 attempts during the fourth quarter.

Kevin Garnett led all scoring for Boston (30-16), finishing with 19 points.  Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo scored 17 points respectively and Rondo contributed 12 assists during the win and Paul Pierce scored 12.  Pierce sat out the entire fourth quarter with what is assumed to be an ankle sprain that can be contributed to a collision with Wizards’ Caron Butler during the first quarter.

Butler, however, led all scoring efforts for the night finishing with 20 points and 11 rebounds.  Earl Boykins scored 14, Mike Miller 13, Haywood 12 and Nick Young 10.

“You have to give Boston a lot of credit.  As a competitor you have to play through every play and you can never think that it’s over,” said Wizards starting center Brendan Haywood. “I think whenever a team only scores 10 points you have to credit your opponent for playing good defense, but is also shows that we have to do a better job of executing on the offensive end.”

Despite all of the trials and tribulations surrounding the Wizards with the suspensions of Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton for the infamous “guns-in-locker-room” incident and the fashion that the Wizards keep losing big games, or any games and a huge trade deadline coming up very shortly that has everyone on edge, the Washington players remain hopeful for their team and their fans.

“We just have to pick it up against New York (Knicks) and get a win.  We are going to get three wins in a row this season…and very soon,” commented Young after the game.

Washington faces off with the struggling Knicks on February 3 in New York.

GAME NOTES

- Kevin Garnett surpassed Larry Bird in total career points with 21,792 and now holds the 24th spot.