Wizards at Bucks
The Washington Wizards feel like they can beat any team when John Wall and Bradley Beal are both healthy and playing well at the same time, and they continue to prove themselves right. The Wizards will try to pick up their seventh win in nine games when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.
Beal is a dangerous scorer but is rounding out his game this season by putting a greater focus on his work on the defensive end, and defense is what gets his credit for the team's strong play. "Our continued effort on defense," Beal said. "That’s something we’ve been preaching the last couple games. It’s been evident when we want to lock down and really lock into guarding our guys, we’re a really tough team." The Bucks were feeling good about themselves after back-to-back wins over the Chicago Bulls but showed they are not quite ready to compete with the best in the Eastern Conference after dropping a pair to the Cleveland Cavaliers. "We understand why they're the best team in the league," Milwaukee coach Jason Kidd told reporters of the Cavaliers. "They showed it again (Wednesday) and they showed it (Tuesday). They never panic. They've seen everything."
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSN Mid-Atlantic (Washington), FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (13-15): Washington can count on production from Wall and Beal on a nightly basis, but the improved play from the second unit is what's bringing the team closer to the .500 mark. The reserves totaled 33 points on 50 percent shooting in Wednesday's 107-97 triumph at Chicago. "I think the chemistry with the second unit is getting better and better each and every game," backup point guard Trey Burke told the Washington Post. "I think the beginning of the year, we were so unfamiliar with each other it’s kind of like we were playing pick-up ball at times. Now we’re more familiar with each other."
ABOUT THE BUCKS (13-14): Milwaukee believes it is heading in the right direction despite losses in five of the last seven games. "This is a game where we tested how good we are and how good we can be," Bucks center John Henson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel after Wednesday's loss. "If we play like we've played the last week, regardless of our wins and losses, we'll be fine. We're not beating ourselves. We're playing the right way for the most part." Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is doing his part to keep the team moving forward and is averaging 27.2 points in the last six games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Wizards SF Otto Porter Jr. left Wednesday's game with back spasms and is day-to-day.
2. Milwaukee SF Michael Beasley (foot) sat out the last four games and is questionable for Friday.
3. Washington took four of the last five in the series, including a 110-105 home triumph on Dec. 10 behind 24 points and 11 assists from Wall.