NBA: Wall stays hot, Wizards beat Lakers, 116-111
Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) shoots between Los Angeles Lakers guards Wesley Johnson (11) and Jordan Farmar (1) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013, in Washington. Wall had 31 points, and the Wizards won 116-111. AP
WASHINGTON — John Wall stayed hot with 31 points and nine assists and Nene had a career high 30 to carry the Washington Wizards to a 116-111 victory over Los Angeles on Tuesday night that broke the Lakers’ three-game winning streak.
Wall has scored more than 30 points for the third straight game for the first time in his career, with his 13 fourth-quarter points coming in the final 4:41 to help Washington hold off Los Angeles. Wall was 10 for 18 from the field and made 11 of 12 free throws.
Nene surpassed his previous career best by two points on 13-for-22 shooting from the field. Martell Webster added 20 points with four 3-pointers.
Jordan Farmar led the Lakers with 22 and Pau Gasol had 17.
The Wizards took a 75-73 lead on Nene’s three-point play with 2:37 left in the third quarter and led 82-77 after three.
Webster’s consecutive 3-pointers in the fourth quarter gave Washington an 88-80 lead with 10:22 to play. Webster added another 3-pointer to give the Wizards their largest lead – 96-87 with 7:38 to play.
Los Angeles came back and took a 108-107 lead on Gasol’s layup with 1:54 to play. Wall’s jumper with 20 seconds later put Washington in front 109-108. After Nene’s layup and two free throws by Wall, Gasol converted a three-point play to cut Washington’s lead to 113-111 with 24.5 seconds to play.
Wall, who was named the Eastern Conference’s Player of the Week on Monday, hit three free throws to seal the win.
Los Angeles continues to be without Kobe Bryant, who discussed his two-year contract extension publicly for the first time before the game. Bryant, still recovering from April surgery on his ruptured Achilles tendon, could be back as soon as next week.
Bryant pledged his fealty to the Lakers, saying he would “run through a wall” for the team after it extended him for two more years at a reported $48.5 million.
Washington was without guard Bradley Beal, who will be out for at least two weeks with a stress injury to his right foot. Beal was replaced in the starting lineup by Trevor Ariza, who missed the last five games with a strained right hamstring.
The Wizards shot 72.2 percent in the first quarter and led 31-29. Nene was 6 for 8.
Washington led 59-56 at the half with both teams shooting nearly 60 percent.
