SEATTLE (AP) - Reserve Roger Mason pumped in five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter in leading the Washington Wizards to a 104-99 victory over the Seattle Supersonics on Wednesday night.
Mason, averaging 8.6 points coming in, finished with 22 points. He matched his career high with six 3-pointers. Caron Butler had 21 points; he's averaging 27.8 points in his last seven games against the Sonics.Kevin Durant scored 32 points for the Sonics. Damien Wilkins and Jeff Green each contributed 13 points, while Nick Collison matched his career high with 21 rebounds.
Seattle (17-55), which beat Portland on Monday, has not won consecutive games since winning a season-high three in a row Jan. 29-Feb. 2.
The Wizards (37-34) remained a half-game ahead of Philadelphia for sixth place in the Eastern Conference. The Sixers beat Chicago 121-99 Wednesday.
The Sonics couldn't find any rhythm through most of the first half. They finally locked in by scoring the final eight points, six by Durant, to make it 56-50 by intermission.
That momentum carried over into the third quarter, as they opened with a 17-6 run for a 73-56 lead with 5:47 left.
Coming out of a timeout, Brandan Haywood's putback basket started a 10-0 run to begin the Washington comeback. The Wizards scored 19 of the next 26 points.
The Sonics maintained a seven-point edge, 75-68, at the buzzer, but the Wizards kept up the pressure. Mason hit three 3s over a 4-minute span to help the Wizards take a 90-84 lead.
Antawn Jamison, averaging a team-high 21.6 points, has struggled on back-to-back nights. He scored just nine points on 3-for-13 shooting Tuesday in a 102-82 loss to Portland. He hit 6 of 17 attempts against the Sonics and finished with 17 points.
Wilkins brought the Sonics energy and a pair of quick baskets to open the second quarter. By the 9:42 mark, Wilkins' two free throws gave the Sonics their first lead, 33-31. The Wizards soon went on an 11-4 run to move back in front 50-48 with 2:52 left.
Collison had perhaps his best career half on the boards with 15 rebounds; no other Sonic had more than four.
Notes: SuperSonics coach P.J. Carlesimo said before the game that "there is not one iota of doubt" who he believes is the NBA's Rookie of the Year: Durant. The league's overall No. 2 pick leads the Sonics and all rookies in scoring at 19.6 per game. ... This was the second of five straight games for the Wizards against Western Conference teams. They continue their road trip against Sacramento on Friday, the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday and Northwest Division-leading Utah on Monday.
