Big comeback lifts Wizards to victory

Outlet: Unlikely contributions continue to lift Wizards

But the Wizards (28-30) came thundering back in the second half with a 22-1 scoring spree to stun the Bulls. They conclude this week's three-game road trip with a 2-1 record and earn their fourth win in the last five games.

Antawn Jamison and backups Roger Mason Jr. and Andray Blatche led the Wizards scoring 17 points apiece. Jamison also had 15 rebounds, while Blatche added 10. Point guard Antonio Daniels recorded 16 points and five assists and forward Darius Songaila — making his second start of the season — finished with 14 points and four assists. Center Brendan Haywood posted 10 points and seven rebounds.

"This is one of those wins that really feels good," Daniels said. "Because it was a character win. It's easy, the last game of the trip to fold, we're down 18, plus we're in another team's building, but we didn't. Guys really stayed positive with each other."

The feeling was oppositely sickening for Chicago.

"We are embarrassed," interim coach Jim Boylan said. "We embarrassed the organization and the city of Chicago tonight. I apologize for that."

The Bulls (23-35) came out cold in the third quarter, committing eight turnovers in the first eight minutes of the third quarter and missing their first nine shots.

Washington came out equally as hot, reeling off a 22-1 tear that gave it a 54-53 lead — its first of the game — when Jamison scored on a putback with 5:24 left in the third quarter. Mason paced the Wizards with eight points on the spree — the last of which, a long jumper that gave Washington a 56-53 advantage and forced a Chicago timeout with 5:03 left in the third.