Wizards 109, Suns 106
WASHINGTON -- Guard Bradley Beal scored a season-high 34 points and the Washington Wizards fought back in the second half for a 109-106 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Friday.
Guard John Wall had 17 points and nine assists for the Wizards (8-9), who had lost five of their previous six games.
Washington trailed nearly the entire game until pulling ahead with a late 10-3 run. Forward Otto Porter's 3-point play put the Wizards up 104-103 with 1:42 remaining for their first lead since 2-0.
Guard Eric Bledsoe scored 22 points and guard Brandon Knight had 19 for the Suns (8-12). Phoenix has lost three straight games and seven of eight overall.
With Washington leading 108-105, Beal fouled Knight shooting a 3-pointer with 8.8 seconds remaining, but Knight made only 1 of 3 from the line. After the second attempt, the Suns were called for a delay of game technical foul, but Beal missed the try.
After guard Garrett Temple's free throw put Washington up three, Bledsoe missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.
The Suns shot 51.2 percent from the field, but made only field goal over the final 7:03. Phoenix fell to 1-4 on its six-game road trip.
Guard Ramon Sessions scored 18 points and Porter had 13 for the Wizards. The victory came after Wednesday's stunning 108-104 setback to Kobe Bryant and the 3-15 Los Angeles Lakers.
Both teams were shorthanded in the frontcourt, but Washington a bit more with its top four big men unavailable including Marcin Gortat. The Wizards starting center returned to his native Poland for a family matter shortly after Wednesday's loss.
These absences forced Wizards coach Randy Wittman to use some small and unconventional lineups, including four guards. Washington still outrebounded Phoenix 41-35. Each team made 10 3-pointers.
The Suns played without center Tyson Chandler (right hamstring strain) for a fourth straight game.
Phoenix forward Markeiff Morris scored 10 points after sitting out Wednesday's 127-122 overtime loss at Detroit with a left knee contusion.
Perhaps still stunned by the result and Bryant's 31-point performance, the Wizards missed their first nine field goal attempts and trailed 31-22 after one quarter. Despite some better moments in the second quarter and Gary Neal scoring 10 of his 12 points off the bench during the period, the Wizards trailed 60-51 at halftime.
NOTES: Washington also played without forwards Kris Humphries (sprained left ankle), Nene (strained left calf) and Drew Gooden (strained right calf). ... Phoenix guard Eric Bledsoe and Washington guard John Wall were teammates at the University of Kentucky. The Suns' other starting guard, Brandon Knight, also played for the Wildcats. ... Suns C Alex Len, a former University of Maryland standout, made his fifth start of the season. ...The Suns and Wizards won't meet again until April 1 in Phoenix. ... Phoenix faces the Grizzlies on Sunday in Memphis. Washington closes its three-game homestand on Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks.