Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) reacts after he made a basket during triple overtime of an NBA basketball game next to Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1), Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
WASHINGTON — Bradley Beal and Kelly Oubre Jr. have matched up often in practice, and Oubre thought he knew what to expect in their reunion.
Just one of a few surprises on a wild Saturday night.
Beal had 40 points and his first career triple-double while squaring off against his former teammate, and the Washington Wizards beat the Phoenix Suns 149-146 in triple-overtime in the highest-scoring NBA game since 2008.
“I was telling him, I didn’t know you were this hard to guard,” Oubre said after his first game against Washington since he was traded to Phoenix last week. “I’m chasing you around all these screens, I’m getting hit every possession but you still moving.
“He had an exceptional game and he willed them to the win tonight.”
The 295 combined points were the most since the Denver Nuggets and Seattle SuperSonics totaled 298 in two overtimes on April 6, 2008. The record is Detroit’s 186-184 triple-OT win over Denver in 1983.
With All-Star point guard John Wall sidelined due to illness, Beal scored 10 points in the third overtime, including a slicing layup that made it 146-144 with 40 seconds left.
He also had a career-high 15 assists and 11 rebounds, and reached the triple-double plateau by the end of the first overtime. He still had to play two more to help Washington to its second win in eight games.
“I will never try to go out and get a triple-double,” Beal said. “It’s the hardest thing to do.”
Thomas Bryant added a career-high 31 points, hit all 14 of his shots and made all three of his free throws. At one point, Bryant scored 16 of 18 points for Washington across a stretch of the first and second overtime.
“It’s amazing,” the second-year forward said. “I had no idea. I was just in the flow of the game. I just let the game come to me, and as soon as I felt like I was in the rhythm of it, I just went out and took it.”
Devin Booker had 33 points and 14 assists for the Suns, who ended their four-game winning streak after giving back a seven-point lead late in the fourth quarter.
Deandre Ayton had 26 points and 17 rebounds for his fifth consecutive double-double but fouled out midway through the second overtime.
After going scoreless for nearly a 10-minute stretch in overtime, Beal scored eight straight points for Washington in the third extra period.
Later, he cut through several defenders for a layup that gave the Wizards the lead for good, 146-144.
“When your best player is not playing, the other guys take on more responsibilities,” Suns coach Igor Kokoskov said. “Beal was, he came ready and understanding that his role tonight was going to be different.”
Tomas Satoransky and Jeff Green combined to make 3 of 4 free throws, with Booker hitting a leaning shot on the other end. Booker tried to set up T.J. Warren for a tying 3-pointer, but Warren’s shot came after the buzzer.
Beal missed a potential winning floater to end the first overtime period, and Booker had his shot from a similar spot rim out to end the second.
WHO ARE THESE GUYS?
With forwards Otto Porter (knee) and Dwight Howard (back) also remaining out, Beal was the only member of Washington’s preseason projected starting five that played Saturday.
“It was definitely a gut check for us,” Beal said. “You look at our second group it was like a group of new guys out there. It was good for us to be able to adjust.”
BIG-NAME COMPANY
Bryant’s 14-for-14 performance is among the best perfect shooting nights in NBA history. The only player to sink more field goals without a miss is Wilt Chamberlain, who reached 18, 16 and 15 in different games.
WELCOME BACK
Oubre entered to an ovation from the Washington crowd with 5:02 left in the first. After playing his first three-plus NBA seasons with the Wizards, Oubre was traded with Austin Rivers to Phoenix for Trevor Ariza last week. He finished with 20 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter or later.
TIP-INS
Suns: Have not won more than four in a row since winning six straight in December of 2014. … Ayton has 20 double-doubles, the most by a rookie this season.
Wizards: Beal recorded double-digit assists for the second time this season after contributing 11 in a loss at New Orleans on Nov. 28. … He also had his third double-digit rebound game. He has never had more than three in a season.
UP NEXT
Suns: Play their fourth game in a five-game road trip at Brooklyn on Sunday.
Wizards: Visit Indiana on Sunday.