Wizards overcome Wiggins' 41 in 112-105 win
WASHINGTON -- John Wall had 18 points and a season-high 18 assists as the Washington Wizards survived 41 points from Andrew Wiggins for a 112-105 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.
Bradley Beal led the Wizards (17-18) with 22 points as Washington won its ninth straight home game.
Marcin Gortat went 9 of 9 from the field for 19 points while grabbing 10 rebounds. The Wizards shot 58.2 percent from the field for a needed win after losing two games during a brief Texas road trip.
Washington needed that kind of offensive performance to offset Wiggins, who scored 25 points in the second half. His pull-up jumper put Minnesota up 101-99 with left.
Washington countered with the next six points to take the lead for good. Wall's speed fueled the surge as he evaded Minnesota's Zach LaVine for the second of two layups.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves (11-25), who have lost three straight. Gorgui Dieng finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Wiggins labored offensively in Minnesota's 93-91 loss at the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, scoring just eight points on 2-of-15 shooting from the field. He sank 16 of 30 shots against Washington before the crowd of 18,686.
LaVine, part of Minnesota's impressive young trio with Wiggins and Towns, had the rough time offensively this game. He finished 3 of 14 for eight points.
The Wizards used a 24-7 run overlapping halftime for a 66-52 lead with 9:15 remaining in the third quarter. His 3-pointer started a ferocious rally as Minnesota outscored Washington 33-14 for an 85-80 lead entering the fourth quarter.
The game of big swings continued as the Wizards opened the fourth quarter with nine straight points as Jason Smith's jumper put Washington up 89-85.
Otto Porter scored 17 points and Markieff Morris had 15 as all five of Washington's starters reached double figures. Smith had 10 off the bench.
Washington closed the second quarter with a 14-3 run for a 56-48 halftime lead.
NOTES: Minnesota and Washington lead the league in minutes played by its starters. For the Wizards, that's due in part to limited production off the bench. Despite that, coach Scott Brooks said there is "nothing is in the works." Teams have until Jan. 10 to waive players with non-guaranteed contracts before those deals are locked. Washington has three such players, including rookie F Danuel House, who missed the last 21 games with a right wrist fracture. ... Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau twice coached Brooks when the latter played in the NBA, including a stint with the New York Knicks. ... The Wizards make their second appearance of the season in Milwaukee on Sunday. The Bucks won a one-sided matchup before Christmas, 123-96 on Dec. 23, but Washington claimed the rematch three days later. ... The Timberwolves return home to host the Utah Jazz on Saturday.