Wizards 102, Spurs 99
WASHINGTON -- Bradley Beal had 25 points, including the winning 3-pointer with 0.3 of a second remaining, as the Washington Wizards downed the San Antonio Spurs 102-99 on Wednesday night.
Guard John Wall contributed 17 points and 13 assists, with the last assist coming on Washington's final play. He fed Beal on the right wing shortly after Spurs guard Tony Parker made a 3-pointer to tie the score with 7.3 seconds left.
Forward Otto Porter had 19 points for the Wizards (3-1), who led by 17 points in the opening minutes but needed a late rally for their second straight win over the Spurs (3-2).
Forward Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points and Parker had 17 for San Antonio. Leonard didn't play in either meeting against the Wizards last season, including Washington's 101-93 home win on Jan. 13 that snapped a 17-game losing streak in the series dating to 2005.
The Spurs trailed 19-2 five minutes into the game yet led 23-22 entering the second quarter. They remained in front until Wall's 3-pointer and Beal's dunk put the Wizards up 92-90 with 3:22 remaining.
Wall split two free throws for a 97-96 lead with 51 seconds left. After the Spurs missed two shots on their next possession, Wall hit two more free throws for a three-point lead with 18.4 seconds remaining.
Parker answered for the Spurs and Beal responded with his third 3-pointer of the game.
The Wizards appeared ready to dominate as their fast-break offense fueled a 17-point lead. Wall had three assists on their first three possessions before the crowd of 17,721.
The Wizards held the Spurs without a field goal until Leonard's reverse layup with 6:51 left in the quarter.
Unfazed by the 19-2 deficit, the veteran Spurs scored 13 straight points. The run reached 28-5 and San Antonio eventually led 51-39 before Washington scored the final six points of the first half.
Leonard scored 18 points in the first half and Porter topped Washington with 15.
Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge had 10 points and 14 rebounds.
Beal has scored at least 24 points in each of his first three games, including Saturday's 117-110 loss to the New York Knicks.
NOTES: Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was asked pregame how the Spurs prepared for a dynamic backcourt like Washington's guard tandem of John Wall and Bradley Beal. "How do we prepare? I really don't know how to answer that question," he said. "What would you like to hear? We did drills before we came (to the arena)? We sought counsel from a Yogi? You just go play the game. It's basketball. We'll try our best to guard them. Sometimes they'll score. Sometimes they won't." ... Wall and Beal entered Wednesday the highest scoring backcourt in the NBA with 47.3 points per game. ... Spurs F Kawhi Leonard missed both games against Washington last season with injuries. ... San Antonio returns home to face the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. ... The Wizards' first back-to-back set of road games this season starts Friday at the Boston Celtics.