Wizards topple Adams’ OKC Thunder
Kiwi Steven Adams’ Oklahoma City Thunder’s three-game winning NBA streak came to an end yesterday after losing to the Washington Wizards.
Adams wasn’t a big contributor in the 116-98 loss, scoring 10 points in the first quarter and two in the rest of the game.
The Thunder started the day with the second-best record in the Western Conference while Washington were nine games under .500 and still adjusting to losing star guard John Wall for the season. Those factors made the win sweeter for Scott Brooks, the former Thunder coach.
Bradley Beal scored 25 points to help the Wizards to the win.
Otto Porter had 20 points, six rebounds and five assists, Jeff Green scored 16 points and Tomas Satoransky added 15 for the Wizards.
‘‘It has to be up there, there’s no question,’’ Brooks said.
‘‘We played against one of the best teams in basketball. They’ve got a lot of talent. They’ve got three All-stars on the floor and I think we battled them and did a lot of things well.’’
Porter had been playing sparingly since coming back from a right knee contusion. He came off the bench and made seven of 17 shots and four of six three-pointers.
Porter started every game he played the previous two seasons, but Brooks is considering keeping him in a reserve role.
Russell Westbrook had 22 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists for his 12th triple-double of the season and the 116th of his career. Paul George scored 20 points and Jerami Grant added 17 for the Thunder, who had won their previous three games.
The Wizards led 54-50 at halftime, but the Thunder quickly took a 55-54 lead in the third quarter on a layup by Grant.
Washington regained control. Porter’s three-pointer capped a 15-2 run that put the Wizards up 80-69 with just under three minutes left in the third quarter. The Wizards led 90-79 at the end of the period.
Sam Dekker’s emphatic reverse dunk put the Wizards up 96-81 with about 10 minutes to play. A three-pointer by Green pushed Washington’s lead to 20.