Caron Butler was convinced his knee was better and lobbied the trainers and doctors for an early return. They ignored his pleas.
He finally got his wish Wednesday night.
And the Wizards finally got what they wanted: a win.
It’s no coincidence.
Butler scored 21 points, including a 79-foot buzzer beater at the end of the third quarter, to help Washington hold off Philadelphia, 111-108, in front of 20,173 fans — the Wizards’ 20th sellout this season. The win, coupled with a Miami loss at Toronto, helped the Wizards, who returned from their five-game road trip Tuesday morning, regain first place in the Southeast Division.
Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson scored a season-high 28 points, one shy of a career best.
The Sixers used a 19-4 run to tie the game at 101. But the Wizards made all eight of their free throws in the final two minutes — as well as their last 18 — to help clinch the game. Philly’s Andre Iguodala missed an off-balance 3-pointer from the top of the key as time expired.
Butler had missed the previous six games with a knee injury. He had hoped to join the team on the five-game West Coast trip.
“But everything happens for a reason,” he said.
Just like his three-quarters court shot that banked in.
“Hopefully that will be on SportsCenter,” Butler said. “I’ll stay up all night to watch it.”
“With the games we’ve been in? You expect that,” Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said of the basket.
Meanwhile, Stevenson made 11 of 18 field goals, including three 3-pointers.
