HITTING A WALL
Ailing Johgn scores 22 as Wiz drop Nets
WASHINGTON — John Wall wasn’t the only one left with a headache.
Wall overcame waking up with a migraine to score 22 points, Bradley Beal added 19, and the Wizards defeated the Nets 129-108 on Friday to help secure their third postseason berth in four years.
"Just play," said Wall of his approach. "I've played through a lot of stuff. I'll be all right."
Justin Hamilton scored 20 points off the bench to lead the Nets a day after they beat Phoenix 126-98 for their second-largest win of the season and first consecutive victories of the campaign.
The Nets actually led by nine early, then trailed by as many as 28 after Washington outscored them 55-18 during a 15-minute stretch that went deep into the second quarter.
"Things don't go your way all the time, and I feel like we could've handled it a little differently," said Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who added 19 points for the Nets. "But that's on us."
Brandon Jennings had 18 points, one of three Wizards bench players to score in double-figures.
Washington's second unit outscored the Nets’ 33-14 during a lopsided first half.
That helped coach Scott Brooks give his starters some rest ahead of a five-game road trip that includes visits to Cleveland and Golden State.
Wall and Beal each played 24 minutes, with Wall play- ing his second-fewest in a game this season.
That was a welcome break for the four-time All-Star point guard, whose symptoms had convinced him to skip the morning shootaround.
"I've still got a headache, [but] it's not as bad as it was this morning," Wall said. "I took some medicine. I slept just about all day until like 4:30. So still taking medicine, still trying to do as much treatment as I can and prepare myself for tomorrow."