Wizards conjure late magic to stretch streak
The Washington Wizards poured it on in the fourth quarter to hold off the New Orleans Pelicans 105-91 on Saturday and stretch their NBA-leading home winning streak to 17 games.
John Wall scored 24 points and handed out 13 assists for the Wizards, who closed the game with a 15-0 scoring run and held the Pelicans without a point for the final 5:51.
All five starters scored in double figures for the Wizards, who won their seventh straight overall and beat the Pelicans for the second time this week.
Anthony Davis had 25
Scoreboard
points and 10 rebounds for the Pelicans, who took a threepoint lead into the final quarter but ended up losing their fourth in a row.
Tyreke Evans’ basket put New Orleans up 91-90 with 6:02 remaining, but Wall answered by feeding Markieff Morris for a dunk that put Washington ahead for good.
Morris scored seven of his 18 points and Wall added six in the closing stretch, while the Pelicans scored just eight points in the final period.
“I would like to think it was good defense,” Washington coach Scott Brooks said of the final surge.
“It was some of us, and they were missing some shots. I thought we picked it up defen- sively. Anytime you hold an NBA team to eight points, you’re doing something good.”
Since Dec 1, the Wizards have produced the best record in the Eastern Conference at 24-9, including 14 wins in their last 16 games. Their last home defeat was on Dec 6 to Orlando.
But they’ ll be tested on Monday when they host NBA champions and Eastern Conference leaders the Cleveland Cavaliers, who appear to be back on track after a disappointing January.
“I’ve been in some big games before, but I don’t think one bigger this year,” Wall said of the Cavs clash.
“They’ve been playing OK, but they’re the defending champs. We know what team we have to chase in the East.”
Holiday haul
Jrue Holiday nearly recorded a triple-double, while Anthony Davis put up good numbers despite battling through some discomfort, limping noticeably at times in the second half.
Holiday, who has two career triple-doubles, notched 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, coming up just shy of the statistical feat, which has only been achieved once this season by a New Orleans player (Tim Frazier).
Davis finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks, but seemed to be slowed by hip soreness.