Andray Blatche scores 25 to lead Washington Wizards to 101-95 win over Chicago Bulls

Blatche has 25 to lead Wizards over Bulls 101-95

WASHINGTON — Andray Blatche scored 25 points and had 11 rebounds to lead the Washington Wizards to a 101-95 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.

Blatche, averaging 25 points in the four games since the trades of Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler, helped Washington to its first three-game home winning streak since April 4-12, 2008. He also made all nine of his free throws.

Washington is 3-1 since the trades, and the Wizards ended Chicago’s four-game winning streak.

Early in the third quarter, the Wizards scored 14 straight to take a 62-58 lead, holding Chicago scoreless for 6 minutes, 10 seconds. Blatche, Al Thornton and James Singleton each scored four points in the run.

Derrick Rose scored 22 points to lead the Bulls.

Washington played nearly the entire game after one of their newest players, Josh Howard, playing in his fourth game, collided with Flip Murray with 4:23 to play in the first quarter. He was helped off the court and suffered a strained left knee.

Both teams made major moves last week. The Wizards made two trades and have four new players, while the Bulls made two trades and also have four new players, though one, forward Joe Alexander is yet to play.

Both coaches, Chicago’s Vinny Del Negro and Washington’s Flip Saunders, noted that some of their new players have yet to participate in a full practice, reducing the number of plays they could run.

Blatche had nine points in the third quarter when Washington outscored Chicago 31-16 as the Bulls missed 15 of their 21 shots. Washington led 77-72 after three.

The Wizards increased their lead to 93-80 after Blatche hit two free throws with 5:25 to play.

Rose led a late rally that cut Washington’s lead to 96-95 with 1:55 left. He scored nine points in the run, including a three-point play that featured a beautiful scoop shot. Flip Murray added 16 for the Bulls.

Thornton and Randy Foye hit late jumpers to give the Wizards a 100-95 lead with 1:01 to play. Thornton had 17 points, Foye had 16 and nine assists, and Singleton had a season-high 12 rebounds.

NOTES: Chicago C Joakim Noah played 12 minutes and scored six points. He played seven minutes in Saturday’s game after missing eight games with a plantar fasciitis injury to his left foot. … G Lindsey Hunter, who hasn’t played since Jan. 11, wasn’t with the team due to personal reasons. … The Bulls committed 14 turnovers. On Saturday, they set a franchise record with just four turnovers for the entire game. … The Wizards have yet to buy out the contract of C Zydrunas Ilgauskas. If he’s bought out, the NBA will not stop a potential reunion between Ilgauskas and the Cleveland Cavaliers.