Wizards 106, Bucks 101
WASHINGTON -- Guard John Wall scored 19 points and the Washington Wizards opened the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run and pulled away for their third straight win, a 106-101 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday night.
Guard Ramon Sessions had 15 points for the Wizards (18-19), who blew a 19-point lead in the first half and trailed 74-71 entering the final period before pulling ahead of the turnover-plagued Bucks. Washington turned 27 Milwaukee turnovers into 36 points as the Wizards improved to 3-0 against the Bucks this season.
Wizards guard Bradley Beal scored 11 points in 22 minutes during his first appearance since Dec. 9. He missed 16 games with a stress reaction in his right fibula.
Guard Khris Middleton led the Bucks (16-25) with 25 points.
Milwaukee, coming off a win Tuesday over the Chicago Bulls, has lost four of six. Forward Jabari Parker had 22 points and center Greg Monroe finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds. The Bucks shot 52.8 percent from the field.
Milwaukee closed the third quarter with a 21-5 run, including the last 11 points, as forward Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 13 of his points in the period. The Bucks immediately coughed up the lead with three turnovers on their first three possessions.
Sessions' two free throws put the Wizards ahead for good at 75-74. Wall's dunk gave Washington its largest lead of quarter at 93-80.
Parker scored nine points in the fourth quarter and his three-point play cut Washington's lead to 104-101 with two seconds left. The Wizards made their final six free throws, including two from Beal 1.6 seconds left.
Washington thrived from beyond the 3-point arc, sinking 12 of 27. Forward Jared Dudley had three 3-pointers and scored 13 points.
Washington had seven players score in double figures in Monday's 114-100 win in Chicago.
Another balanced attack occurred against the Bucks as the Wizards snapped a three-game home losing streak. Center Nene scored 12 points and guard Garrett Temple had 11 were among the seven double-figure scorers.
Forward Otto Porter had 10 points before leaving in the third quarter with a hip injury.
Washington defeated Milwaukee in the first two meetings this season, including a 115-86 win at home on Nov. 17 for its largest margin of victory this season.
Bucks guard O.J. Mayo was ruled in the second half with sore left hamstring.
Both teams shot over 52 percent from the field in the first half, but the Wizards entered the locker room leading 56-43.
NOTES: Wizards C Marcin Gortat missed his second straight game with an infection. There is no timetable for his return, but coach Randy Wittman said staph infection was ruled out. ... Bucks F Kris Humphries (knee) sat out his fifth straight game. ... Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged 18.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.0 assists in two previous meetings against the Wizards this season. ... Milwaukee returns home to face the Atlanta Hawks on Friday for the first time this season. Washington plays at Indiana on Friday before starting a five-game homestand Saturday against the Boston Celtics.