Beal scores 41 as Wizards top Clippers
WASHINGTON -- Bradley Beal had 41 points and six 3-pointers as the surging Washington Wizards rallied past the Los Angeles Clippers for a 117-110 win on Sunday evening.
Markieff Morris scored 23 points and John Wall added 18 points and 11 assists for the Wizards (12-14), who set a season high with their third straight win. Washington shot 53.1 percent from the field and sank 10 of 19 3-point attempts.
The Wizards overcame an 11-point deficit in the second half and trailed 102-95 midway through the fourth quarter. Beal's sixth 3-pointer tied the game at 102 with 5:01 left. Marcin Gortat's three-point play with 3:03 remaining put the Wizards up for good at 109-106.
Blake Griffin had 26 points for the Clippers (20-8), but zero in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles opened its three-game road trip 2-0 and had won four straight overall.
Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers was ejected after picking up two technical fouls with 1:08 remaining moments after Morris hit consecutive jumpers for a 114-108 lead.
J.J. Redick scored 17 points and Marreese Speights added 14 for the Clippers. Los Angeles shot 49.4 percent from the field, but couldn't stop Washington's offense from scoring 65 points in the second half.
Chris Paul collected 13 points and 12 assists, and DeAndre Jordan chipped in 13 points and 17 rebounds for the Clippers.
Los Angeles scored the final five points of the second quarter for a 55-52 halftime lead and opened the third with a 10-2 spurt to take its largest lead at 65-54. Beal sparked Washington's rally with 18 points and three 3-pointers as the Clippers led 87-85 entering the fourth.
Austin Rivers scored five points during a 7-0 run that turned a tied game into a 102-95 Clippers lead midway through the final period. Washington countered once again.
Griffin took advantage of Washington's limited frontcourt depth with 18 first half points on 7 of 11 shooting before the crowd of 17,380, but went 0 for 3 in the fourth.
Washington played without key bench contributor Kelly Oubre Jr. The second-year forward entered the concussion protocol program following an injury against Detroit.
Luc Mbah a Moute started and had six points in 17 minutes for the Clippers after missing the previous two games with a right shoulder sprain.
Paul finished two points shy of 15,000 for his career.
NOTES: Washington played without F Jason Smith, who suffered a hamstring injury in Friday's win over Detroit. Rookie G Sheldon McClellan was with the team following his recall from the D-League. He played six games with the Delaware 87ers. ... Clippers F Alan Anderson played for the Wizards last season while F Paul Pierce keyed Washington's 2015 playoff run to the Eastern Conference semifinals. ... Los Angeles swept the season series in five of the previous seven seasons. ... Washington opens a three-game road trip against Central Division opponents on Monday at the Indiana Pacers. The Wizards are 2-8 on the road this season. ... Los Angeles returns home for three straight games, starting with the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.