Wall provides big assist to Wizards in win
WASHINGTON -- John Wall set a career high with 20 assists and Bradley Beal scored 24 points as the Washington Wizards rebounded from a rare home loss with a 112-107 win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night.
The Wizards (42-26) let most of a 19-point halftime lead slip away thanks to their latest suspect defensive performance but ultimately held on to snap a two-game losing streak.
Otto Porter and Wall each made two free throws inside the final 19 seconds after Jimmy Butler's 3-pointer made the score 108-107 with 39.7 seconds left.
Butler had 28 points for the Bulls (32-37) but missed the potential tying 3-pointer with 3.9 seconds left.
Wall also had 14 points and played 34 minutes despite suffering a sprained left foot in Wednesday's 112-107 home loss to the Dallas Mavericks. The Wizards had a season-high 34 assists.
Chicago, which has lost two in a row and seven of eight, played its first game since losing Dwyane Wade to a small fracture in his right elbow. Robin Lopez had a season-high 25 points and 12 rebounds.
Down 84-72 entering the fourth quarter, Chicago closed within 91-87 on Joffrey Lauvergne's short jumper with 6:16 remaining. After a timeout, Beal and Wall re-entered the game.
Washington's starting backcourt scored or assisted on the Wizards' final eight field goals, but the Eastern Conference contenders couldn't run way from the Bulls.
Wade, the Bulls' second-leading scorer, went out in Wednesday's 91-88 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. The 12-time All-Star will miss the remainder of the regular season.
Nikola Mirotic had 15 points for the Bulls. The NBA's worst 3-point shooting team finished 7 of 27 from beyond the arc and the Wizards hit 10 of 26.
Jason Smith matched his season high with 17 points in his first start of the season for the Wizards. He replaced Markieff Morris (illness) in the starting lineup and made his first three 3-point attempts. Ian Mahinmi had 16 points and Porter finished with 14.
Washington has not lost three or more games in a row since Nov. 11-16.
Capped by Wall 3-pointer, Washington closed the second quarter with a 10-0 run to enter halftime up 59-40. That was Wall's only basket of the first half, but he had 12 assists.
NOTES: Washington plays at Charlotte on Saturday. ... Bulls G Cameron Payne (right foot) missed his second consecutive game and won't play at home on Saturday against the Jazz, coach Fred Hoiberg said. Chicago won at Utah 85-77 on Nov. 17. ... With the Wizards' 42nd win of the season, they ensured a better record than last season's 41-41 mark.