NBA: Nets roll past Wizards to fourth straight victory

LOS ANGELES -- The Brooklyn Nets cruised to their fourth straight NBA victory on Monday as Kevin Durant's 30 points fueled a 112-100 win over the Wizards in Washington.

The Nets, who battled through early season struggles that saw coach Steve Nash sacked then dealt with the suspension of Kyrie Irving in an anti-Semitism row, have now won eight of their last nine games.

"We're building something," Durant said. "We've got to keep fine-tuning."

Durant said the Nets' recent strong run owed something to seven straight games at home, and also to the fact that a few opponents were shorthanded.

But he added: "For the most part, I like the brand of basketball we played on both ends of the court."

"Regardless of who was on the floor, we still played our system."

On Monday, the Nets led by double digits for much of the second half, holding the Wizards to 45 points after the interval.

Durant added nine rebounds and six assists and Irving added 24 points as the Nets dealt the Wizards a seventh straight defeat.

Will Barton scored 22 points off the bench to lead the Wizards, who had 20 points apiece from Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma.

The Nets trail Cleveland by just half a game for third place in the East after the Cavaliers were up-ended by Western Conference stragglers San Antonio 112-111.

Josh Richardson scored 24 points to lead the Spurs, who were up by 10 with 4:35 to play and held on despite a Cavs rally that cut the deficit to two on Donovan Mitchell's putback basket with 53 seconds remaining.

Evan Mobley added a free throw that pulled Cleveland within one with 37.9 seconds left.

But Keldon Johnson blocked a shot by Mitchell, Cleveland's Darius Garland missed a three-pointer and Spurs reserve Devin Vassell came up with a steal to seal the victory.

The injury absence of Ja Morant was no problem for the Memphis Grizzlies, who roared to a 128-103 home victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

Tyus Jones scored 22 points and Jaren Jackson delivered 15 points, seven rebounds and a career-high eight blocked shots -- which tied the Grizzlies' franchise single-game record shared by Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol and Stromile swift.

His defensive efforts were key to holding the Hawks, who connected on just 37 of the 104 shots they put up.

The Grizzlies won their sixth straight and moved within half a game of the New Orleans Pelicans atop the Western Conference.

Morant was sidelined with a sore right thigh while the Hawks were without their top scorer in Trae Young, who sat out with a tight low back a day after Atlanta's overtime victory over Chicago.

The Miami Heat clawed out a much-needed win in Indianapolis, where Bam Adebayo scored 22 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, Jimmy Butler added 20 points and the Heat clamped down defensively for an 87-82 victory over the Pacers.

The Heat led 74-73 with 4:59 remaining when Kyle Lowry's three-pointer launched a 10-2 Miami scoring run.

Butler scored seven straight points in the burst and Miami held on for the win.

Agence France-Presse

NBA: Joel Embiid dominates as 76ers go up 3-0 on Wizards

Joel Embiid scored 36 points before sitting out the fourth quarter as the visiting Philadelphia 76ers cruised to a 132-103 victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid's point total served as a playoff career high. His previous best was a 34-point performance in Philadelphia's 128-101 loss to Boston in Game 2 of a first-round series on Aug. 19, 2020.

Embiid made 14 of 18 shots from the floor on Saturday. He added eight rebounds and three steals.

Tobias Harris collected 20 points and 13 rebounds for the 76ers, who shot 58.6 percent from the floor and 51.5 percent from 3-point range to seize a 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven series. 

Top-seeded Philadelphia can close out eighth-seeded Washington in Game 4 on Monday night.

Danny Green sank five 3-pointers to highlight his 15-point performance and Seth Curry made three from beyond the arc en route to finishing with 15 points. Ben Simmons added 14 points and nine assists.

Washington's Russell Westbrook recorded 26 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists despite being hampered by an ankle injury sustained in Game 2. Bradley Beal added 25 points in defeat.

Curry, Green, Harris and Embiid each drained a 3-pointer as part of an early 17-2 run for Philadelphia. The spirited surge gave the 76ers a 29-13 lead before Washington was able to halve the deficit by the end of the first quarter.

Undaunted, Green sank a 3-pointer on consecutive possessions to push Philadelphia's advantage to 62-50 with 4:16 left in the second quarter. 

Washington slowly chipped away before Embiid provided the signature moment of the half by using a ball-fake before powering home a one-handed dunk to set up a three-point play.

Westbrook sank a pair of 3-pointers to give Washington some momentum to begin the third quarter before the 76ers steadily took control of the game.

Harris made a pair of floating jumpers and Curry connected from 3-point range to highlight a quick 7-0 surge that gave Philadelphia an 87-69 lead.

The outcome was never in doubt after that.

-reuters-

NBA: Mavericks rout Wizards for fourth straight road win

Luka Doncic finished with 26 points, Jalen Brunson came off the bench to score 19 and the Dallas Mavericks wrapped up a five-game road swing with their fourth straight win in a 109-87 defeat of the Wizards on Saturday in Washington D.C.

For the second game in as many nights, Dallas held its opponent to fewer than 100 points. The Mavericks held the Wizards to just 5-of-25 shooting from 3-point range and 35-of-86 overall from the floor.

Washington's scoring struggles resulted in an end to Russell Westbrook's streak with four consecutive triple-doubles. He finished with 26 points, 14 rebounds and five assists, all team-highs, but had limited scoring help.

Dallas held two Washington starters -- Alex Len and Garrison Mathews -- scoreless.

Robin Lopez came off the bench to score 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting and Raul Neto added 16 points. But with NBA-leading scorer Bradley Beal sidelined for a fourth straight game due to a hip contusion and Rui Hachimura sidelined with a shoulder injury, the Wizards were without two of their top three scorers.

Dallas had its own sizable vacancy from the lineup with 7-foot-3 Kristaps Porzingis resting on the second leg of a back-to-back. Boban Marjanovic stepped into the starting lineup and delivered 15 points, 12 rebounds and clogged the paint defensively.

All five Mavericks starters scored in double-figures, including Tim Hardaway Jr. with 16 points. He made consecutive 3-pointers in the fourth quarter that extended the Dallas lead to 19 points and effectively quashed Washington's comeback efforts.

The Wizards cut the deficit to nine points with 6:18 when Davis Bertans scored three of his 11 points, but they came no closer.

Dorian Finney-Smith scored 11 points for the Mavericks and Nicolo Melli finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. Doncic added eight rebounds and six assists.

The Mavericks welcomed back coach Rick Carlisle, who missed Friday's win over New York due to a false positive COVID-19 test.

-reuters-

NBA: Trae Young's 41 points carry Hawks past Wizards

Trae Young stalled a Washington rally with his fourth 3-pointer of the game and added a fifth shortly thereafter, helping the visiting Atlanta Hawks hold off the Wizards 116-100 on Friday night.

Young went for 41 points in a head-to-head with NBA scoring leader Bradley Beal, propelling the Hawks to a fifth win in their last seven games.

Beal, who began the day with a 35.4-point scoring average, had 26 points for the Wizards, tying Russell Westbrook for team-high honors.

After leading by as many as 23 in the third quarter, the Hawks found themselves in a game after the Wizards ran off 11 straight points to get within 102-92 with still 5:08 remaining. Rui Hachimura had five of the 11 points, including a 3-pointer.

But Young countered with a 3-pointer at the 4:53 mark, then added another 29 seconds later to help the Hawks pull away.

Young finished 10-for-18 from the field, 5-for-9 on 3-pointers and 16-for-17 at the free throw line en route to his second-highest point total of the season. He had a season-high 43 at Minnesota last Friday.

It was his eighth time over 30 points this season.

John Collins chipped in with 17 points, Clint Capela with a 13-point, 14-rebound double-double and Danilo Gallinari with 11 points off the bench for the Hawks, who were coming off a 132-128 overtime loss at home to Brooklyn.

Beal's 26 points left him four shy of a seventh straight game with 30 or more. He shot 10-for-26 overall, but missed all eight of his 3-point attempts.

Westbrook bombed in three 3-pointers during his 26-point performance, but the Wizards were outscored 36-21 by the Hawks from beyond the arc.

Garrison Mathews added 10 points off the bench for Washington, which lost its fourth straight in the opener of a three-game homestand.

The Hawks never trailed after a layup by Onyeka Okongwu put them up 18-17 at the 2:52 mark of the first quarter.

Atlanta extended the advantage to as many as nine points in the first quarter, 13 in the second and 23 in the third before the Wizards rallied.

-reuters-

NBA: Beal’s last-second layup lifts Wizards over Mavs

Bradley Beal's layup with 0.2 seconds left lifted the Washington Wizards to a 119-118 win over the visiting Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.

Beal took the inbounds pass from Troy Brown Jr. near the foul line with 1.8 seconds left and drove for the layup. The Mavericks' alley-oop attempt at the buzzer failed.

Dorian Finney-Smith's corner 3 gave the Mavericks a 117-112 lead with 1:48 remaining, but Ish Smith's 3 made it 117-115, and Davis Bertans tied it with two free throws with 45.3 seconds to play.

After Kristaps Porzingis' shot was blocked by Washington's Isaac Bonga, Beal missed and Tim Hardaway Jr. was fouled by Bonga with 1.8 seconds left. He missed the first but made the second.

Beal had 29 points for Washington, ending a streak of seven straight games with 30-plus points. Bertans added 20 points.

Seth Curry led seven Mavericks in double figures with 20 points and Hardaway finished with 19.

Porzingis, who suffered a broken nose in a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night, played but was limited to 21 minutes due to foul trouble, and finished with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Luka Doncic (sprained right ankle) of the Mavericks missed his fifth straight game and Washington was without Thomas Bryant (right foot soreness).

Shabazz Napier, acquired by Washington in a trade with the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, scored 14 points in his Wizards debut.

Dallas led by eight after Willie Cauley-Stein's dunk with 5:16 left in the third quarter, but Napier's 3-pointer at the buzzer pulled Washington within 93-92 entering the fourth.

Curry's 3-pointer put Dallas up 109-107 at the 5:45 mark and Jalen Brunson's layup pushed the lead to 111-107.

Washington trailed by seven points in the first quarter but tied the score at 33 on Rui Hachimura's jumper with 10:28 left in the first half.

Dallas went back up by as many as five but settled for a 64-62 halftime lead.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Pistons crush Wizards by 30, end 5-game skid

Christian Wood scored 22 points off the bench, Tim Frazier had 17 points and six assists, and the host Detroit Pistons snapped a five-game losing streak by blasting the Washington Wizards 132-102 on Thursday.

Derrick Rose contributed 15 points and six assists, Blake Griffin had 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Andre Drummond supplied 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons.

Bruce Brown and Svi Mykhailiuk added 12 points apiece, and Tony Snell chipped in 10.

The Pistons shot 53.5 percent from the field.

Anzejs Pasecniks topped the Wizards with 17 points while Bradley Beal and Jordan McRae had 15 points apiece. Troy Brown Jr. contributed 13 points, and Gary Payton II, signed less than a week ago, added 10 points.

The Wizards were held to 41.3 percent shooting.

Washington won at Detroit 133-119 on Dec. 16, but the Pistons dominated this game virtually from the start.

The Pistons learned earlier in the day that starting swingman Luke Kennard would miss at least the next two weeks due to knee tendinitis.

The Wizards have been ravaged by injuries, and guard Isaiah Thomas was serving the second game of a two-game, NBA-issued suspension for confronting a fan in the stands.

The Pistons opened up a 20-point lead by halftime, 68-48.

Drummond led the way with 12 first-half points, including a tip-in right before the second-quarter buzzer. Bruce Brown scored 10 points and Griffin added eight before halftime.

The Pistons shot 55.6 percent and made just three turnovers in the first half. Washington also committed only three turnovers but shot 38 percent.

Detroit extended its lead to 26 early in the third when Mykhailiuk hit a 3-pointer, Griffin blocked an Admiral Schofield shot and Frazier followed with another long ball.

Frazier's 3-pointer midway through the quarter upped Detroit's advantage to 89-60. Griffin nudged the lead to 30 on a layup with 5:13 left in the quarter.

The Pistons carried a 106-76 lead into the fourth quarter.

Detroit now heads out on a six-game road trip, its longest of the season, beginning with a Saturday game at San Antonio. Washington plays its next six games at home, starting Saturday against the New York Knicks.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Beal leads Wizards past Pistons to end skid

Bradley Beal poured in 35 points and dished out 10 assists and the Washington Wizards snapped a four-game losing streak by pulling away from the host Detroit Pistons, 133-119, on Monday.

Isaiah Thomas, who missed the previous five games with a calf strain, supplied 23 points. Davis Bertans contributed 17 points off the bench while Ish Smith had 10 points and seven assists. Troy Brown Jr. added 10 points and six rebounds for Washington.

Markieff Morris had 22 points and five rebounds for the Pistons. Derrick Rose contributed 22 points, six rebounds and eight assists, while Bruce Brown had 20 points. Luke Kennard added 14 points, six rebounds and six assists.

Detroit's frontcourt stars missed the game. Andre Drummond, the league's leading rebounder, sat out for the second straight game due to left eye inflammation related to an allergic reaction. Blake Griffin was sidelined by left knee soreness. He has appeared in only 14 of the team's 27 games.

Washington's rookie forward Rui Hachimura sat out the second half with a groin contusion.

The Wizards entered the game ranked last in the league in points allowed and opponents' field-goal percentage. Washington won the first meeting between the teams, 115-99, on November 4.

Detroit had gone 6-3 at home against the Wizards since the 2014-15 season.

Beal scored 21 first-half points as Washington led, 67-61, at halftime.

The Wizards attacked the Pistons' depleted frontcourt from the start, piling up 10 layups or dunks in the first quarter alone while scoring 43 points in the quarter. That total was the most Detroit has allowed in any quarter this season.

The Wizards led by as much as 16 in the second quarter but the Pistons chipped away as four of their players had at least nine first-half points, led by Morris' 13.

Washington increased the lead to 10, 89-79, with 3:33 left in the third quarter on Admiral Schofield's 3-pointer.

Schofield was whistled for a Flagrant Foul 1 later in the quarter when he tried to block a Christian Wood dunk attempt. Rose scored seven points late the quarter to cut Washington's advantage to 96-91 entering the fourth.

Rose's layup with 8:18 remaining made it 102-99. Beal hit two free throws with 5:20 remaining to increased Washington's lead to six, 114-108.

Beal hit a jumper with less than four minutes to go to make it 119-111. He dunked with 3:16 left for a 121-113 Wizards lead. Bertans converted a four-point play moments later, extending Washington's lead to 12 points.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Lakers continue run, defeat Wizards for 10th straight win

Anthony Davis had 26 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks in less than three quarters, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to their 10th consecutive win by crushing the visiting Washington Wizards 125-103 on Friday night.

LeBron James, who also rested in the fourth quarter, finished with 23 points and 11 assists for the Lakers, who captured their 17th win in 18 games. Their lone loss during the stretch was at home to the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 10.

Quinn Cook scored 17 points, while JaVale McGee added 15 and Rajon Rondo chipped in with 13. Danny Green added 11 for Los Angeles, which is 9-1 at home.

Wizards guard Bradley Beal, who entered the contest ranked fourth in the league in scoring at 28.9 per game, scored 18 points and recorded nine assists. Rui Hachimura had 16 points and eight rebounds for the Wizards, who have dropped three of four. Ish Smith and Jordan McRae each scored 13 off the bench for Washington.

The Lakers started slow, trailing by as much as 11 in the first before blitzing the Wizards with a 29-6 burst for a 37-23 lead at the end of the first quarter. Davis scored 15 points in the first.

Davis, who scored a season-high 41 points against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, is averaging 28.2 points in his last five games.

The Lakers, who led by as much as 39, continued to dictate in the second quarter, outscoring the Wizards 33-26 for a 70-49 advantage at the break. It was the highest first-half scoring output for Los Angeles this season.

In the third, the Lakers continued to pour it on, using a 19-2 run to bury the Wizards.

The Lakers outshot the Wizards 51.7 percent to 39.6 percent from the floor. Los Angeles converted 14 of 32 3-pointers (43.8 percent) to 10 of 37 (27 percent) for Washington.

Washington entered the game tied with the Milwaukee Bucks as the league's highest-scoring teams at 119.4 points per outing.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Thompson, Cavaliers roll past Wizards

Tristan Thompson led seven Cavaliers in double figures with 21 points and visiting Cleveland held off the Washington Wizards for a 113-100 win on Friday night.

Washington, which trailed by as many as 21 points, pulled within one point twice in the fourth quarter.

Kevin Love and Collin Sexton scored 16 points each for the Cavaliers. Thompson and Love grabbed 12 rebounds apiece.

Thomas Bryant led Washington with 23 points and Rui Hachimura added 21 points on 10-of-13 shooting.

Bradley Beal scored 20 points for Washington, which has lost five of its past six.

Washington, which trailed by 15 at halftime, closed to within 11 early in the second half but a 6-0 run gave Cleveland a 73-56 lead.

The Wizards soon responded with an 8-0 run capped by Bryant's tip-in. After Beal's 3-point play brought Washington within 12, Hachimura's dunk cut the deficit to 86-76, and Bryant's dunk made it 86-78 with 2:49 left in the third quarter.

Back-to-back 3-pointers by Davis Bertans and Ish Smith capped a 27-9 run that pulled Washington within 88-84 after three quarters.

The Wizards pulled within one early in the fourth quarter but never took the lead and the Cavaliers pushed the margin back to seven points on Jordan Clarkson's tip-in.

Cleveland's lead was 10 points after a goaltending violation by Bryant, who then earned a technical, and Love's free throw with 4:57 remaining.

Washington got no closer than within six points the rest of the way and Sexton's 3-pointer made it 111-100 with 1:41 left.

Leading 30-28 early in the second quarter the Cavaliers went on a 17-4 capped by Cedi Osman's jumper with 7:49 left in the first half.

Thompson's free throw gave Cleveland a 20-point lead late in the half, but Hachimura scored eight points down the stretch and the Wizards were within 67-52 at intermission.

The Wizards committed 11 turnovers in the first half and the Cleveland bench outscored the Washington reserves 26-10.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Harden scores 59 to power Rockets past Wizards

James Harden scored 59 points and hit a free throw with 2.4 seconds left to lift the Houston Rockets to a wild 159-158 win over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night for their third straight win.

After Bradley Beal hit three free throws to tie it with 7.7 seconds left, Harden drove, got the foul call and made the first free throw. He missed the second and Washington was unable to get a shot off.

Harden was 18 of 32 from the field. Russell Westbrook had 17 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists and Clint Capela added 21 points for the Rockets, who shot 53.4 percent (55 of 103) from the field.

Beal led the Wizards with 46 points on 14-of-20 shooting. Rookie Rai Hachimura had 23 points and Davis Bertans 21. Washington shot 62.6 percent (57 of 91) from the field.

Houston trailed 152-150 when Eric Gordon hit a 3-pointer with 59 seconds left. Beal responded with a layup and foul shot to put the Wizards ahead by two at the 48-second mark.

Westbrook's three-point play put the Rockets up 156-155 with 32 seconds left.

Beal turned the ball over, and P.J. Tucker hit two free throws with 14 seconds remaining.

Washington led by one at halftime and Hachimura's 3-pointer gave the Wizards a 95-89 lead midway through the third quarter but the Rockets soon tied it on a four-point play by Harden.

Washington trailed 104-103 before Bertans (10 points) sparked a 14-7 run to the end of the third quarter.

Troy Brown Jr. hit a 3-pointer to put the Wizards up 126-114 early in the fourth.

The lead was 133-121 after Bryant's jumper at the 7:24 mark, but Houston scored seven straight points before Beal answered with a 3-pointer and Bryant's floater pushed the lead back to 10.

Houston rallied again as Westbrook and Harden scored to pull the Rockets within 147-142 with 3:11 remaining.

Harden's two free throws pulled Houston within 152-148 and Westbrook's basket cut the deficit to two points with 1:25 left.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Wizards' Miles treated for stress fracture in foot

Washington Wizards forward C.J. Miles will have surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot.

The procedure was slated for Thursday afternoon with Dr. Martin O'Malley at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

"Our medical team has done a fantastic job of proactively diagnosing C.J.'s condition and establishing a treatment protocol," said Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard. "He will continue to be a positive influence on our team as he works through his rehab and we're looking forward to getting him back on the court when he is healthy."

The team said an update on Miles' return to action will be provided in approximately six weeks.

Miles, 32, was acquired by the Wizards from Memphis on July 6 in exchange for center Dwight Howard.

He averaged 6.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 53 games last season with the Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors.

Miles has played in 838 games (303 starts) since entering the NBA as a second-round pick of the Utah Jazz in 2005.

--Field Level Media

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Raptors dominate third quarter, top Wizards

Pascal Siakam scored 19 of his career-best 44 points in the third quarter and grabbed 10 rebounds Wednesday night as the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Washington Wizards, 129-120.

The Raptors trailed by as many as 12 points in the third quarter, but scored 44 points in the quarter to take a 10-point lead entering the fourth.

OG Anunoby had 10 points in the third quarter and finished with a career-best 22 points for the Raptors, who were without Kawhi Leonard because of a sore left knee.

Kyle Lowry had 14 points and 13 assists, Serge Ibaka added 10 points and 13 rebounds, Norman Powell had 11 points and Danny Green 10 as Toronto entered the All-Star break with a six-game winning streak.

Jeremy Lin had eight points, five rebounds and five assists in his Raptors debut.

Bradley Beal led Washington with 28 points and 11 assists, Jeff Green added 23 points, Jabari Parker had 22 points and nine rebounds, Trevor Ariza scored 19, Thomas Bryant had 13 points and Bobby Portis 12.

The Wizards trimmed the Raptors' lead to two points on Parker's dunk and three throw with 7:50 left, but Toronto expanded the lead to eight with 3:43 left after a 9-3 run.

Toronto led 30-26 after the first quarter.

With 5:02 left in the first half, Green converted a free throw after making a 3-pointer and Washington led by two. Ariza made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Washington a 65-59 halftime lead.

Beal had 16 first-half points and Green added 15 for the Wizards, who shot 51.2 percent from the field in the half. Siakam had 14 for the Raptors, who shot 38.8 percent in the first half.

Ariza started the second half with a 3-pointer. The Wizards led by 12 on Bryant's running dunk with 8:48 left in the third quarter.

The Raptors regained the lead with a 15-0 run, capped by Lowry's 3-pointer and Lin's layup. Powell's free throw increased the lead to 12 at 101-91 with less than a minute left in the third quarter. Toronto led 103-93 entering the fourth quarter.

The Raptors also were without Patrick McCaw (shoulder). Fred VanVleet (left thumb ligament) will be out at least five weeks after surgery Wednesday.

The Wizards were without Tomas Satoransky (personal) for the second straight game.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Giannis, Bucks blow past Wizards

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 37 points and 10 rebounds, and the visiting Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Washington Wizards 131-115 on Saturday night for their third straight win.

Brook Lopez added 21 points, and Khris Middleton scored 20 for the Bucks, who avenged a Jan. 11 loss at Washington, a game they played without Antetokounmpo.

Milwaukee shot 50 percent from the field -- including 43.6 percent (17 of 39) from 3-point range -- and converted all 24 of its free-throw attempts.

Bradley Beal led the six Wizards in double figures with 24 points, Jeff Green added 20 and Otto Porter Jr. scored 18.

The Bucks shot 60 percent (12 of 20), including 5 of 10 from 3-point range, in the first quarter to build a 38-26 lead despite turning the ball over six times.

Thomas Bryant scored four straight points to pull the Wizards within 43-36 with 8:50 left in the second quarter, but Milwaukee's Sterling Brown and Middleton hit back-to-back 3-pointers.

Antetokounmpo scored seven points during a 12-0 run late in the quarter, and the Bucks led 73-50 at halftime.

Antetokounmpo had 24 points on 6-of-11 shooting in the first half, and Lopez added 17 points.

Bryant had 12 points for Washington, which shot 38.5 percent from the field in the first half, including 20 percent (3 of 15) from 3-point range.

The Bucks led by 32 after Malcolm Brogdon's layup with 9:00 left in the third quarter, but the Wizards rallied, scoring 16 straight points -- seven by Green -- to pull within 90-75.

Washington was within 100-84 to start the fourth, but the Bucks scored eight quick points -- five by Antetokounmpo -- to stretch the lead.

The Wizards made an 8-0 run, but the Bucks answered again, scoring six straight to lead 114-92 with 7:20 left to play.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Curry scores 38, leads Warriors past Wizards

Stephen Curry scored 38 points, and the visiting Golden State Warriors defeated the Washington Wizards 126-118 for their ninth straight win Thursday night.

Kevin Durant added 21 points, and DeMarcus Cousins had 17 in his third game since returning from an Achilles injury. Draymond Green had 15 rebounds. Curry was 14 of 24 from the field and has topped the 30-point mark in four of his past six games.

The Warriors shot 56.8 percent from the field (50-for-88) and had 34 assists, their fifth straight game with 30 or more.

Trevor Ariza had 27 points for Washington, which had won two straight, and Bradley Beal added 22 points and 10 rebounds. Tomas Satoransky finished with 20 points and 10 assists.

The Wizards stayed in it by converting 15 of 42 3-point attempts compared to 7 of 20 for the Warriors.

Washington trailed 104-92 to start the fourth quarter, but Satoransky's floater capped an 8-0 run that pulled it within 106-103.

Chasson Randle's 3-pointer cut the lead to 108-106, but the Warriors scored nine straight to lead 117-106 with 4:48 remaining after Shaun Livingston's three-point play.

Curry soon scored four straight points, and the Golden State lead was 123-111 at the 3:04 mark. Washington cut the deficit to single digits in the final minute.

The Warriors shot 15-of-24 from the field in the first quarter and, with the scored tied at 22, closed it with a 15-6 run.

Golden State led 48-35 after Cousins' layup with 7:34 remaining in the second quarter. Ariza's dunk capped a 6-0 run that pulled Washington within 52-47, but the Warriors led 67-59 at halftime.

The Warriors cooled a bit in the second quarter but still finished the half 27 of 46 (58.7 percent), compared to 21 of 49 (42.9 percent) for Washington.

Curry had 21 points in the first half.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Rockets sink record 26 treys, trounce Wizards

James Harden continued his torrid scoring but received plenty of help as the Houston Rockets set an NBA single-game record by sinking 26 3-pointers in a 136-118 victory over the visiting Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

Harden scored 35 points on 10-of-18 shooting, including 6-of-11 success on 3-point attempts, to lead the Rockets to their fifth consecutive victory.

With nine assists, Harden finished just shy of posting a double-double, a feat accomplished by teammates Clint Capela (20 points, 12 rebounds) and P.J. Tucker (11 points, 11 rebounds). 

All five starters scored in double figures for the Rockets, with Chris Paul adding 21 points and eight assists while Eric Gordon chipped in 16 points.

Houston shot 55.3 percent overall, drilling 26 of 55 3-point tries. 

With the outcome well in hand and Houston reserves on the floor, the partisan crowd begged for 3-pointers in the waning moments until Michael Carter-Williams sank the record-breaker with 31.1 seconds remaining.

Paul (5 of 9), Gordon (4 of 9), and Gerald Green (4 of 7) combined with Harden in the long-distance assault.

The Wizards shot a robust 53.6 percent but were 10 of 30 from deep. Bradley Beal paced Washington with 28 points while John Wall had 18 points and 12 assists. 

Trevor Ariza, in his first game back in Houston after departing via free agency, had 15 points, six rebounds and three steals.

The Rockets reversed course from a sluggish start with haste, starting with consecutive 3-pointers from Harden and Tucker midway through the first quarter. 

What was once a six-point lead for the Wizards vanished when Harden hit the first of his consecutive step-back 3-pointers, taking full advantage of screens set by teammates that moved Ariza off Harden as the primary defender.

Once their rhythm was established, the Rockets kept rolling. 

Their first three made baskets in the second quarter came from behind the arc, and when the Wizards clawed to within 54-45 on a Beal bank shot, the Rockets added three additional 3-pointers in succession.

Harden closed the first half with a three-point play, but the tone was set: Houston hit 13 of 25 3-point tries prior to the intermission. 

Washington shot 58.1 percent in the first half but drowned in the deluge.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Irving, Celtics shoot past Wizards in OT

Kyrie Irving hit a tiebreaking, 31-foot 3-pointer with 17 seconds remaining in overtime, and the visiting Boston Celtics held off the Washington Wizards, 130-125, on Wednesday night.

Bradley Beal and John Wall missed 3-point attempts to tie the score before Irving closed out Boston's victory with two free throws.

Irving's 3-pointer with 38.6 seconds left gave the Celtics a two-point lead, but Wall's jumper tied it with 30.7 seconds to go.

Irving scored 38 points and Marcus Morris added 27 for Boston, which won its seventh straight.

Wall, who returned after missing one game with bone spurs in his left heel, led the Wizards with 34 points and 13 assists, continually driving for baskets over the final minutes of regulation and overtime.

Beal and Jeff Green scored 22 points each for the Wizards, and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 20 points.

Beal tied the score 113-113 with 11.3 seconds remaining in regulation when he made a free throw, then got the rebound of his subsequent missed free throw and scored. Irving missed on a drive into traffic at the buzzer.

Boston benefitted from 24 second-chance points and was 25-for-25 from the free throw line while Washington missed 8 of 29 foul shots.

The Celtics trailed by nine to start the third quarter before hitting 13 of 21 field-goal attempts. Boston turned the deficit into a seven-point lead as Morris hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Washington opened the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run and took the lead on Markieff Morris' 3-pointer with 9:39 remaining. The teams stayed close for the remainder of regulation.

The Celtics were without Al Horford because of an injured left knee as well as Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward due to illness. Aron Baynes returned after missing two games and most of a third.

Washington was without Otto Porter Jr. due to a bruised knee.

The Wizards led 55-46 at halftime.

Washington shot 47.4 percent (18 of 39) in the first half, while the Celtics managed only 38 percent (19 of 50), including 4 of 20 (20 percent) from beyond the arc.

For the game, the Wizards outshot the Celtics 50.5 percent to 45.2 percent from the floor. Washington made 12 of 33 3-point attempts while Boston was 11 of 38 from beyond the arc.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Holiday, Pelicans shoot past Wizards

Jrue Holiday had 29 points to lead six New Orleans scorers in double figures as the host Pelicans ended a four-game losing streak by beating the Washington Wizards 125-104 on Wednesday night.

Anthony Davis added 28 points and 15 rebounds, and point guard Tim Frazier, whose insertion into the starting lineup allowed Holiday to return to his natural shooting guard position, also had a double-double, finishing with 12 points and 12 assists.

Holiday had struggled while playing point guard in the absence of starting point guard Elfrid Payton, who is sidelined due to finger surgery that is expected to keep him out for another month.

Julius Randle came off the New Orleans bench to add 23 points and 12 rebounds, Nikola Mirotic had 15 points and nine boards, and E'Twaun Moore added 10 points.

Kelly Oubre Jr. and Markieff Morris scored 22 each, and John Wall added 17 for Washington, which had won three of its previous four games. Bradley Beal contributed 16 points and 11 assists, and Jeff Green came off the bench to score 10.

The Pelicans led by 22 early in the third quarter, but Wall made back-to-back baskets to complete an 11-0 run that cut the lead in half.

Davis scored 11 points as New Orleans rebuilt the lead to 19 before Washington made another run.

Oubre, Beal and Morris each made a 3-pointer as the Wizards got within 11 again, but Mirotic beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer that gave the Pelicans a 98-81 lead after three quarters.

The closest the Wizards could get in the fourth quarter was 13 points as New Orleans rebounded from a 124-114 loss at Washington four days earlier.

Holiday made 6 of 8 first-quarter field-goal attempts, including two 3-pointers, to score 14 points as the Pelicans led by as many as 14 before settling for a 31-24 lead.

The Wizards got within five points four times in the second quarter before New Orleans went on a surge.

The Pelicans finished on a 24-9 run, and Randle scored the last five points as New Orleans took a 67-47 lead into halftime.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Wizards top Rockets in OT despite Harden's 54

John Wall had 36 points and 11 assists, Bradley Beal added 32 points and the Washington Wizards rallied from an early 17-point deficit to defeat the visiting Houston Rockets 135-131 in overtime.

The Wizards overcame a season-high 54 points from Rockets guard James Harden.

Washington started the overtime with an 8-1 run capped when Otto Porter Jr. picked up a steal and fed Beal for a dunk with 1:50 left, and the Rockets got no closer than within three points. Houston shot 2 of 7 in overtime with four turnovers.

Harden missed three straight shots and turned the ball over twice in the final minutes of regulation but fed Clint Capela for an alley-oop that tied it, 125-125, with 9.8 seconds left.

Wall had the ball knocked away on a jumper attempt with 1.2 seconds left, and he then blocked Eric Gordon's jumper at the buzzer.

Markief Morris had 22 points and 10 rebounds as the Wizards bench out-scored the Rockets reserves 45-9.

Gordon had 36 points, and Capela had 17 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks for Houston, which has lost three straight games.

Harden had 11 assists, eight rebounds and 13 turnovers in 47 minutes.

The Rockets were without guard Chris Paul (strained hamstring) for a second consecutive game. Backup guard Gerald Green (sore right ankle) was also out.

Washington center Dwight Howard (gluteal soreness) remains out.

Harden scored 21 points in the third quarter as the Rockets went on an 18-4 run late in the quarter to take an eight-point lead, which was trimmed to four by the end of the frame.

The Rockets jumped out to a 17-point first-quarter lead behind Gordon and Harden, who combined for 25 points in the quarter. A 15-4 run pulled Washington within 34-28, but the Rockets pushed their lead to 42-30 by the end of the quarter as they hit seven 3-pointers.

It was the third time this season that the Wizards had given up 40 or more points in a quarter.

The Wizards rallied again in the second quarter and they led 67-65 at intermission.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Leonard shines as Raptors pull away from Wizards

Kawhi Leonard had 27 points and 10 rebounds, and the Toronto Raptors pulled away for a 125-107 victory against the visiting Washington Wizards, their fourth straight win.

Five other Raptors scored in double figures, led by Kyle Lowry and OG Anunoby, who finished with 15 points each.

Toronto, owners of the NBA's best record (16-4), shot 49.5 percent, including 43.6 percent (17 of 39) from 3-point range.

Bradley Beal led the Wizards with 20 points. John Wall had 11 points and 11 assists but turned the ball over seven times, as Washington was unable to build on its stirring come-from-behind win over the Clippers on Tuesday.

The Wizards couldn't match Toronto's night beyond the arc, making just 9 of 46 (19.6 percent) from 3-point range.

The Raptors led by eight to start the third quarter, but the Wizards scored the first nine points of the quarter, taking the lead on Kelly Oubre Jr.'s basket.

But Leonard's 3-pointer with 8:04 left put Toronto ahead and started a 28-14 run to the end of the quarter, and the Raptors led 101-87.

The Wizards pulled to within 103-93 early in the fourth quarter, but Delon Wright and CJ Miles hit back-to-back 3-pointers.

Washington got back to within 12, but Leonard's jumper with 3:55 followed by Serge Ibaka's hook shot later made it 118-99 with 3:13 remaining, and the lead grew to as many as 24 points.

The Wizards were without Dwight Howard (gluteal soreness).

The Raptors led 70-62 at halftime after shooting 51 percent, including 10 of 21 from 3-point range. They outrebounded the Wizards 26-17.

Leonard led the Raptors with 15 points.

Washington shot 43 percent and just 6 of 24 beyond the arc before the break.

Otto Porter Jr. had 14 points for the Wizards, and Beal had 13.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Clippers put 9 in double figures, rout Wizards

Tobias Harris had 22 points and 11 rebounds, Lou Williams scored 17 off the bench, and the Los Angeles Clippers routed the visiting Washington Wizards 136-104 on Sunday night.

Avery Bradley chipped 15 points, and Montrezl Harrell and Boban Marjanovic contributed 13 each for the Clippers, who had nine men in double figures and never trailed.

Bradley Beal led the Wizards with 20 points, and John Wall had 18.

The Clippers led by 15 at halftime and by 17 early in the third quarter before Beal capped a mini-Wizards run with a 3-pointer that got Washington within 81-71.

Los Angeles responded with 16-0 run led by three 3-pointers from Patrick Beverly and five points from Danilo Gallinari. The Clippers led by 20 points after three quarters.

Washington converted just 5 of 27 (18.5 percent) from 3-point range while the Clippers made 16 of 29 (55.2 percent).

The Clippers have won four of their past five, while the Wizards fell to 1-3 on a five-game road trip that ends Tuesday at Memphis.

Los Angeles was without forward Luc Mbah a Moute (sore left knee) while Washington center Dwight Howard (lower back soreness) has yet to play this season.

Wizards forward Markieff Morris left the game after taking an elbow to the face in the second quarter and did not return due to concussion symptoms.

The game marked the return to Los Angeles of guard Austin Rivers -- son of Clippers coach Doc Rivers -- who was dealt to Washington on June 26 in exchange for center Marcin Gortat. Rivers finished with nine points and three assists in 22 minutes. Gortat had four points and eight rebounds in 19 minutes.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander swished a running half-court 3-pointer as the first quarter ended, and Harrell's layup capped a 17-4 run and gave the Clippers their largest lead of the first half, 42-24, with 9:24 left in the second quarter.

The Clippers led 69-54 at intermission.

source: news.abs-cbn.com