GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: WASHINGTON (2-5) at MINNESOTA (1-5)

NBA: WASHINGTON (2-5) at MINNESOTA (1-5)

<h3>Wizards go for third straight against Timberwolves</h3>

<div class="pre">Washington (2-5) at Minnesota (1-5) 8:00 pm EST</div>

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - The Washington Wizards go for their thirdstraight win on Friday when they face the MinnesotaTimberwolves.


The Wizards, who began the season with five straight losses,have gotten back on track recently, winning back-to-back gameswith their last, a 103-90 victory, on Wednesday against theIndiana Pacers.


Gilbert Arenas put together his best performance of the seasonagainst the Pacers, scoring 30 points while adding 11 reboundsand six assists.


Arenas has been struggling with injury this campaign and has hadhis left knee drained of fluid twice after having surgery inthe offseason. However, an MRI on Monday revealed no furtherdamage to Arenas' knee.


Caron Butler has been carrying the offense while Arenascontinues to recover. Butler is averaging 21.6 points and 7.4rebounds a game this season.


The Timberwolves, like the Wizards, began the season 0-5 beforepicking up their first win on Wednesday against the SacramentoKings. A reason for Minnesota's struggles may stem from aroster which features 10 new players.


One of those new players, Al Jefferson, has not disappointedsince being acquired from the Celtics in the blockbuster tradethat sent Kevin Garnett to Boston. The fourth-year forwardregistered double-doubles in each of his first five games beforescoring 23 points and seven rebounds against the Kings.

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON VS MINNESOTA - INACTIVES

WASHINGTON MINNESOTA

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
C THOMAS HEART SURGERY M DOLEAC COACH'S DECISION
M MADSEN STRAINED PECTORAL MU
R FOYE KNEE INJURY</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON VS MINNESOTA - INACTIVES

WASHINGTON MINNESOTA

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
E THOMAS HEART SURGERY M DOLEAC COACH'S DECISION
M MADSEN STRAINED PECTORAL MU
R FOYE KNEE INJURY</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON AT MINNESOTA - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


WASHINGTON MINNESOTA

F Antawn Jamison F Ryan Gomes
F Caron Butler F Al Jefferson
C Brendan Haywood C Theo Ratliff
G DeShawn Stevenson G Rashad McCants
G Gilbert Arenas G Marko Jaric

OFFICIALS: Ken Mauer
Leroy Richardson
Leon Wood</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 16
MINNESOTA 15 5:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 21
MINNESOTA 15 3:01 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 32
MINNESOTA 24 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
WASHINGTON 32 32
MINNESOTA 24 24 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

WAS - ANTAWN JAMISON 9, GILBERT ARENAS 8,
DESHAWN STEVENSON 5
MIN - RASHAD MCCANTS 7, RYAN GOMES 4, AL
JEFFERSON 4</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 32
MINNESOTA 30 9:02 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 34
MINNESOTA 35 6:17 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 39
MINNESOTA 45 3:03 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 47
MINNESOTA 51 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
WASHINGTON 32 15 47
MINNESOTA 24 27 51 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

WAS - CARON BUTLER 14, GILBERT ARENAS 13,
ANTAWN JAMISON 9
MIN - ANTOINE WALKER 11, RASHAD MCCANTS 9,
SEBASTIAN TELFAIR 7</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 54
MINNESOTA 58 8:39 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 59
MINNESOTA 68 6:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 69
MINNESOTA 71 2:40 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 71
MINNESOTA 74 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
WASHINGTON 32 15 24 71
MINNESOTA 24 27 23 74 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

WAS - GILBERT ARENAS 18, CARON BUTLER 18,
ANTAWN JAMISON 14
MIN - RASHAD MCCANTS 18, ANTOINE WALKER 13, AL
JEFFERSON 13</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 73
MINNESOTA 78 9:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: WASHINGTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 81
MINNESOTA 81 5:59 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>