Wizards at Bulls
The Washington Wizards haven't dropped three straight games all season and they look to keep that factoid intact when they visit the Chicago Bulls on Saturday. Washington lost 110-104 in overtime to the Boston Celtics on Thursday - the ninth time the Wizards have lost consecutive games this season.
The Wizards won five consecutive games before dropping back-to-back contests against the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston. Washington has been able to survive without five-time All-Star point guard John Wall - out until around mid-March after knee surgery - and All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal is stepping up as a passer and matched his career best of nine assists in Thursday's 110-104 overtime loss to Boston. The Bulls halted a seven-game losing streak Friday when they prevailed 114-113 over the Minnesota Timberwolves in former star Jimmy Butler's return to Chicago. Bulls guard Zach LaVine, acquired in the deal for Butler, scored a season-high 35 points and drained three free throws with 18.4 seconds left to give Chicago the victory.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington, WGN (Chicago)
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (31-24): With Wall sidelined, the pressure is higher on Beal to produce and he was a porous 7-of-27 from the field for 18 points during the loss to the Celtics. "I'll give him credit," Washington coach Scott Brooks told reporters of Beal. "He attacked. He didn't settle for jump shots the entire game. He attacked. He got one free throw. That's what he does. When you have a tough shooting night, you attack. That's what he's supposed to do. He's supposed to do what he does, and he couldn't get to the line." Meanwhile, forward Markieff Morris (sprained left hand) is questionable after missing Friday's practice and his availability should be firmed up at the mid-day shootaround.
ABOUT THE BULLS (19-35): LaVine missed the first 42 games due to an ACL injury that cut short his final season in Minnesota after 47 games and the 22-year-old has topped 20 points in four straight games and is averaging 26.5 points during the stretch. Chicago has pledged to tread carefully with a player who the franchise is billing as a future star so coach Fred Hoiberg said after Friday's win that LaVine will be held out against the Wizards - a development that will leave the backcourt thin with point guard Kris Dunn (concussion) set to miss his 10th straight game. Rookie power forward Lauri Markkanen returned after a three-game absence due to the birth of his child to score 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting against Minnesota.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Beal recorded 39 points, nine rebounds and nine assists as the Wizards posted a 114-110 home win Dec. 31 for their fourth straight victory over the Bulls.
2. Washington SF Otto Porter Jr. had 27 points and 11 rebounds against the Celtics for his ninth double-double, three shy of last season's personal best.
3. Chicago waived veteran SG Tony Allen on Friday, eight days after acquiring him in a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans.