Wizards beat Lakers

WASHINGTON — Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball’s coldshooting start to his NBA career just keeps getting worse. For a change, the Washington Wizards managed to play the sort of defense that contributes to limiting an opponent’s scoring.

John Wall and the Wizards managed to make a double-digit edge hold up against the Lakers this time, with the All-Star point guard scoring 23 points and Bradley Beal adding 22 while Washington held Ball to 3 for 12 on field-goal tries in a 111-95 victory over L.A. on Thursday night.

“They had an offshooting night,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said, “but we participated in that.”

Ball, who had 10 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, finished the night shooting 29.2 percent so far in the pros. That’s the secondworst through a player’s first 12 games in the shot-clock era, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Asked about people constantly analyzing his unusual shooting motion — it looks something like a right-handed shot put released from the left side of his head — the No. 2 overall draft pick said: “I really don’t even care, to be honest. I know I’ve got to just keep shooting and just improve it every game.”