Beal, Wizards top struggling Celtics

Bradley Beal returned from a rare night off to score 35 points, Russell Westbrook was a rebound short of a triple-double, and the host Washington Wizards beat the Boston Celtics 104-91 on Sunday.

Beal, the NBA’s leading scorer who sat out Friday night’s loss to the Knicks, hit 10 of 18 from the field, converted four three-pointers and made all 11 of his free throws.

“It was a mental unwind, it was a physical unwind,” Beal said. “My body was a little beat up. It’s always good to be able to get away from the game for a minute.”

Westbrook had 13 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds.

Kemba Walker and Jalen Brown each scored 25 points for Boston, which has lost 10 of 16.

Brown conceded that things aren’t going well, and that the Celtics could be bottoming out.

“It could be. It’s up the mentality of everybody. You let it be rock-bottom mentality and that’s what it’s going to be,” Brown said.

Timberwolves

116, Raptors 112: KarlAnthony Towns scored seven of his 20 points late in the fourth quarter before fouling out and Minnesota snapped a four-game losing streak with the win over Toronto in Tampa.

Malik Beasley also scored 20 points and Anthony Edwards added 18 for the Timberwolves.

Kyle Lowry led the Raptors with 24 points, and Fred Van Vleet and Marvin Powell added 22 points apiece.

Pistons 123, Pelicans 112: Mason Plumlee had 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his first career triple-double, and Detroit spoiled Stan Van Gundy’s return to Motown.

Josh Jackson led Detroit with 21 points, and Svi Mykhailiuk added 18.

Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram scored 26 points each for New Orleans.

Spurs 122, Hornets 110: Dejounte Murray had 26 points and 12 rebounds, and visiting San Antonio outlasted short-handed Charlotte.

Derrick White scored 12 of his season-high 25 points in the fourth quarter, helping San Antonio to its fifth win in six games.

Terry Rozier had 33 points for the Hornets.