Lakers win gives Ball last word on Wizards’ Wall
Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball, right, defends Washington Wizards guard John Wall during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Lonzo Ball and the Los Angeles Lakers had the last word on John Wall and visiting Washington after days of NBA trash talk, prevailing 102-99 in overtime Wednesday.
Brandon Ingram scored 19 points, Larry Nance Jnr added 18 and each grabbed 10 rebounds while teen rookie guard Ball had six points, eight rebounds and 10 assists to spark the Lakers.
The Wizards missed out on their first 4-0 season start since 1978.
“We were a half-step slow all night,” said Wizards coach Scott Brooks. “The fourth quarter we were just standing around. They played better than us down the stretch. They made big shots. They deserved to win.”
Lavar Ball, Lonzo’s famously outspoken father, began the verbal fireworks after a Sunday loss to New Orleans, saying of the Wizards, “They better beware. Because Lonzo ain’t losing again. Not in the same week.”
Wizards center Marcin Gortat tweeted in response that “JohnWall will torture (Ball) for 48 minutes.”
Wall vowed “no mercy” to the Washington Post and added, “His dad has been talking… that makes me want to go out there and lead my team and play the best I can play.”
It didn’t work out that way. Wall had 18 points on 7-of-22 shooting with nine assists, missed a tying 3-point attempt at the final buzzer and lost the ball out of bounds on a drive to the hoop late in overtime, his appeal for a foul unrewarded.
“A lot of contact. I thought I got fouled,” Wall said. “We’ve got to learn how to close them out. We had the game in our hand.”
LaVar Ball praised his son’s performance despite Wall producing more points.
“When he goes off, people get stuck on them points,” the elder Ball said. “He does a lot more things than score points all the time to get the team to win. He’s versatile.”
