Wall's jumper pulls Wizards past Bulls
WASHINGTON -- John Wall hit the game-winning jump shot with five seconds remaining as the Washington Wizards rallied back from an 18-point deficit for a 101-99 win over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night.
Wall led the way with 26 points and 14 assists.
The Wizards (19-18) earned their 10th consecutive home win to move over .500 for the first time this season.
Washington survived an uninspired first half and still trailed 99-97 with 57.6 seconds left. The first of Wall's two baskets in the final minute tied the game against a Bulls team that played without leading scorers Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade plus key reserve Nikola Mirotic.
After Michael Carter-Williams' runner missed on Chicago's next possession, Wall drained a jumper from the right wing. The Bulls had one last chance, but Doug McDermott missed on his shot.
Bradley Beal and Markieff Morris each had 19 points for the Wizards.
Denzel Valentine scored a career-high 19 points on five 3-pointers for Chicago, which shot 39.8 percent from the field. Carter-Williams and Robin Lopez each scored 14 points, and Rajon Rondo had 12 points in 27 minutes after not playing the previous five games.
The Bulls (19-20) led 61-43 with 56.9 seconds left in the second quarter. Washington scored the final six points of the half and then outscored Chicago 32-16 in the third quarter for an 81-77 lead.
Short-handed or not, the Bulls fought back with a 14-2 run. Valentine's 3-pointer put Chicago 92-85 with 7:38 remaining, but the Wizards countered. Morris had 10 points in the final period.
Butler and Mirotic were sidelined due to illness. The Bulls, who lost 109-94 on Monday at home to the Oklahoma City Thunder, are resting the 34-year-old Wade during one game of back-to-back scenarios.
With Wall's up-tempo style, Washington finished with a 26-11 advantage in fastbreak points in its third straight win, but Chicago dominated second-chance points 19-6.
Chicago entered Tuesday last in 3-point percentage at 31.6 percent. Against the Wizards they sank 8 of 10 in the first half but missed all nine attempts in the third quarter. The Bulls finished 10 of 27 from long range.
Washington and San Antonio entered Tuesday tied for the longest active home court winning streaks. The Spurs hosted the Milwaukee Bucks.
NOTES: Chicago faces New York on Thursday in what would be its second meeting against ex-Bulls starG Derrick Rose since trading him to the Knicks this past offseason. Rose missed New York's loss Monday to the New Orleans Pelicans and did not inform the team of his whereabouts prior to the game, but he did return to the club Tuesday, saying he was dealing with a family issue. ... Washington G Tomas Satoransky (illness) left the arena to rest prior to tipoff. ... Bulls G Jerian Grant, who grew up in the D.C. area, made his fifth start of the season. He scored nine points. ... The Wizards visit the Celtics on Wednesday. Washington, which is 1-5 in the second game of back-to-back contests, defeated Boston at home 118-93 on Nov. 9.