Duncan scores 23 points, Mason adds 20, Spurs beat Wizards 97-86 for 5th straight win

Duncan scores 23, leads Spurs past Wizards 97-86

WASHINGTON — Tim Duncan scored 23 points and reserve Roger Mason Jr. added a season-high 20 to lead the San Antonio Spurs to their fifth straight victory on Saturday night, 97-86 over the Washington Wizards, who remained enveloped in a gun controversy surrounding Gilbert Arenas.

Tony Parker had 12 points for the Spurs, whose winning streak matches a season high. San Antonio has won four straight on the road and nine in a row against the Wizards.

Duncan’s jump-hook gave the Spurs an 81-80 lead with 6:21 left in the game, and he followed that with two free throws as part of a decisive 12-2 run.

Caron Butler scored 24 points and Arenas added 23 for the Wizards, who have dropped four straight. Antawn Jamison had 17 points and nine rebounds.

Arenas did not comment before the game on investigations by the NBA, U.S. Attorney’s Office and District of Columbia police over allegations that he stored unloaded firearms in his locker in the team’s Verizon Center locker room.

Arenas missed five of his first seven attempts from the floor before hitting a running 37-footer as time expired at the end of the first quarter.

Wizards coach Flip Saunders hinted at changes in the wake of a slipshod defensive effort in Tuesday’s home loss to Oklahoma City, then made only minor adjustments: inserting Andray Blatche at forward in place of guard Randy Foye and moving swingman Butler from guard to forward.

Washington responded by quickly falling behind 18-10 as Duncan made his first four shots from the field. The Wizards used a 10-0 run in the second quarter to erase the lead, going ahead 43-40 when Butler scored on a layup with 5:47 left in the first half and followed it with a 19-foot jumper.

Arenas had six points as the Wizards used an 11-2 run late in the third quarter to take a 71-66 lead. San Antonio was limited to one field goal in the final 4:44 of the period — Keith Bogans’ follow of Mason’s miss to make it 71-70 with less than a second remaining.

NOTES: Saunders said before the game he was counting on C Brendan Haywood for a strong defensive effort against the Spurs. But by the time 9½ minutes had elapsed, Haywood was on the bench with two fouls. His replacement, Fabricio Oberto, had picked up two personals barely two minutes into the second quarter. … Washington last defeated the Spurs on Nov. 12, 2005. … Butler twice forced jump balls by tying up Duncan in the second half. … The Spurs improved to 4-9 when trailing after three periods.