Chicago, IL (Best E Casino) - Brendan Haywood scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the short-handed Washington Wizards over the Chicago Bulls, 99-87.

Washington played without Antawn Jamison and Gilbert Arenas, but still claimed sole possession of the fifth-seed in the Eastern Conference with the win, breaking a tie with Philadelphia, which lost to Atlanta earlier in the night.

Jamison was nursing a sprained right shoulder, and Arenas (knee) sat out for precautionary reasons. The Wizards are now just two games behind Cleveland for the fourth seed.

Caron Butler added 18 points and eight rebounds, while Darius Songaila and Roger Mason chipped in 14 points apiece for the Wizards, who out-rebounded their counterpart, 53-28.

Chicago was led by Ben Gordon's 18 points off the bench. Larry Hughes recorded 16 points and Tyrus Thomas 12, but Chicago is all but assured of being on the outside looking in come playoff time.

"We didn't play well," Chicago's Luol Deng, who finished with eight points, said. "It's been the story of the season. They out-rebounded us and had more energy."

Though the Bulls led by one at the intermission, Washington intensified its defensive effort in the second half. With a 63-61 lead at the 4:03 mark, the Wizards rattled off a 13-3 spurt with Butler and Songaila each netting four points to pull away.

"The end of the third quarter was great," Haywood said. "Our guards were really good. Roger Mason started playing really well. Everybody chipped in, our defensive intensity really stepped up and was able to push us through."

Ahead 76-64 at the beginning of the fourth, Washington didn't let up on the gas. The Bulls failed to net a field goal until the 7:10 mark of the final quarter, and, although Washington only drained three field goals itself, the 83-65 lead was the largest Wizards lead to that point.

A Thomas three-pointer and Chris Duhon breakaway layup cut the Bulls deficit to 12 with 2:15 remaining in the game, but Chicago got no closer as Washington walked away with the win.

Washington played sloppy basketball in the first quarter while turning the ball over five times in the first ten minutes. However, the Wizards finished the quarter on a 9-2 run and led 25-22.

The lead changed several times in the second stanza with Chicago holding the Wizards without a field goal for the final three minutes of the half. The Bulls took a slim, 43-42, lead heading into halftime.

Game Notes

Washington had lost six of their last seven on the road against the Bulls....Chicago is 18-20 at home this season, while Washington is 18-21 on the road...With a postseason appearance this season, the Wizards have made the playoffs four straight years...DeShawn Stevenson contributed 11 points for Washington, while Andray Blatche grabbed 10 boards...Washington shot 16- of-17 from the foul line, and Chicago made just 14-of-23 at the stripe...Chicago's Drew Gooden sat out for the fourth straight game with a strained abdominal muscle.