NBA: Bradley Beal makes big plays to lift Wizards over Hawks
Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards looks on against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at United Center on February 26, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Michael Reaves/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Michael Reaves / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Bradley Beal scored a season-high 37 points, 12 in the fourth quarter, to help the short-handed Washington Wizards overtake host Atlanta 119-116 and ruin the debut of new Hawks head coach Quin Snyder.
Washington trailed by eight points with 6:03 remaining. Beal led the comeback and put the Wizards ahead to stay with a drive with 2:30 left, then had two more baskets to preserve the lead.
Atlanta’s Trae Young had two chances to tie the game with 8.1 seconds left but missed both.
The Wizards ended a two-game losing streak and broke a six-game losing streak in Atlanta. The loss ended Atlanta’s two-game winning streak. Snyder was hired this week to step in for interim head coach Joe Prunty after Nate McMillan was fired.
Beal was 17-for-30 from the field and scored 30-plus points for the ninth time. He added seven assists and three rebounds.
CLUTCH BUCKETS FROM BRAD.@RealDealBeal23 with a season-high 37 points tonight 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YPkJoyWI1C
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) March 1, 2023
Kyle Kuzma scored 28 and Daniel Gafford added 13 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. The Wizards played without Kristaps Porzingis (left knee soreness) and Monte Morris (lower back soreness) for the second straight game.
Young had 31 points and seven assists to lead the Hawks. Bogdan Bogdanovic added 16 points, including four 3-pointers. Clint Capela had 13 points and 15 rebounds.
Washington led by as many as seven points in the first quarter, only to have Atlanta end on an 8-2 run to tie the game 27-27. Atlanta led by seven on Capela’s tip-in with 2.1 seconds left, but Young was whistled for a foul on Delon Wright’s 3-pointer with 0.9 seconds left. Wright made all three free throws to cut the margin to 56-52 at halftime. Washington got as close as one point in the third quarter, but Atlanta carried a 90-85 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Hawks and Wizards play three more times during the regular season, next March 8 and 10 in Washington.
Atlanta completes its four-game homestand on Friday against Portland. Washington returns home on Thursday for the first of two back-to-back games with Toronto.
