Wizards top Lakers to clinch Southeast Division
LOS ANGELES -- John Wall scored 34 points and handed out 14 assists, and the Washington Wizards used a fourth-quarter rally to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 119-108 on Tuesday night at Staples Center.
Otto Porter Jr. and Bradley Beal added 16 points apiece for the Wizards, who clinched the Southeast Division with the win. Kelly Oubre Jr. chipped in 14 points.
Washington (46-28) is two games behind the Boston Celtics and 1 1/2 behind the Cleveland Cavaliers in the race for the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
D'Angelo Russell scored 20 of his 28 points in the first half for the Lakers, who lost to the Wizards for the fifth straight time on their home court. Jordan Clarkson finished with 22 points, and Tyler Ennis had 11 for Los Angeles (21-53).
Lakers rookie forward Brandon Ingram (right patellar tendinitis) missed his second game in a row.
The Wizards rallied from being 13 down with a 19-6 run to open the fourth. A basket by Wall tied the score at 101 with 5:56 left. The two teams traded buckets before a three-point play by Beal gave the Wizards a 108-104 edge with 2:51 remaining.
Clutch baskets by Oubre, Markieff Morris and Wall helped the Wizards seal the win.
The Lakers came back from a 12-point deficit in the first half to grab a 58-55 lead at the break.
In the third, Los Angeles increased the margin to double digits with some sizzling shooting. The Lakers went up 82-68 after consecutive drives to the bucket by Julius Randle with 4:16 left.
The Lakers hit 15 consecutive shots in the period and finished it shooting 93.8 percent for a 95-82 advantage heading into the final quarter. Clarkson was 6 of 6 from the floor, including 2 for 2 from long distance. Washington shot 45.8 percent.
Overall, the Wizards shot 51.1 percent to 50.6 percent for the Lakers.
NOTES: Wizards coach Scott Brooks indicated he wouldn't rest any of his players during the team's final eight regular-season games. "It's not a focus at all," said Brooks. "I definitely talk to all our guys. Game minutes are only a piece of the pie. It's about practicing, and shoot-arounds and days off, that all comes together to formulate the best-educated opinion of giving guys some time off. Right now, I communicate with all of our guys. Our guys are feeling good and fresh." ... Lakers coach Luke Walton celebrated his 37th birthday. ... The Wizards face the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday at Staples Center. ... The Lakers visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.