Beal Outduels Ex-Teammate Wall, Wizards Top Rockets 131-119
WASHINGTON (AP) — Bradley Beal scored 37 points in an entertaining duel with ex-teammate John Wall, and the Wizards beat the undermanned Houston Rockets 131-119 on Monday night in Wall's return to Washington.
Wall, traded in December for Russell Westbrook and a first-round pick, had season highs of 29 points and 11 assists for the Rockets, who were missing leading scorer Eric Gordon along with Victor Oladipo, Christian Wood and P.J. Tucker. Houston dropped its sixth straight.
Westbrook had 16 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds for his sixth triple-double of the season — his first in a Wizards win — and 152nd of his career. But it was a largely inefficient performance from the former MVP, who shot 8 of 22 overall, 0 of 3 from 3-point range and airballed a 20-foot jumper. Westbrook played on back-to-back days for the first time this season.
Davis Bertans added 18 points on 5-of-6 3-point shooting for Washington, which won consecutive games for the first time this season.
Houston kept it close against Washington's league-worst defense before the Wizards wore down the Rockets, who had only 10 players dressed for the game. Washington finally started to pull away with an 11-2 run late in the third quarter.
Wall went to the bench early in that run. He returned with 7:28 left in the fourth quarter and the Rockets trailing by 13, and Houston could not get closer than eight points the rest of the way.
LOW-KEY TRIBUTE
The Wizards played a video montage in tribute to Wall during a first-quarter timeout that highlighted Wall's charitable efforts in Washington, which have continued since the trade.
TIP-INS
Rockets: Tucker's streak of 267 consecutive games ended because of a left thigh contusion. The forward has played more games than anybody in the NBA since the 2012-13 season. "For him not to play, you know he's pretty banged up. It was a tough conversation to have, but he was the one who was like, 'Yeah, I just can't do it. I can't move on the floor,'" coach Stephen Silas said. ... Gordon was out with a sore groin, Oladipo has a sprained right foot and Wood has a sprained right ankle. ... Silas said his wife had no heat or power at their Houston home because of a winter storm that slammed Texas on Monday.
Wizards: Coach Scott Brooks said Westbrook felt healthy enough to play on consecutive days and wouldn't predict his availability for future back-to-backs. ... Ish Smith (strained right quad) missed a second straight game.
UP NEXT
Rockets: At Philadelphia on Wednesday night.
Wizards: Host Denver on Wednesday night.
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