Wizards Defeat Bulls, NBA Scores

The week began with John Wall and the Washington Wizards on a five-game losing streak and facing a daunting margin just to reach the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

After a pair of victories over the two teams right ahead of them in the standings, wins that came by an average of 32 points, the Wizards are in a far different place.

"Now we're in it," forward Jared Dudley said. "Before, if we lose these two, we would have been out of it. We win these two, now we're in the thick of things."

Finally playing as if their chance at returning to the postseason was on the line, which it very much is, the Wizards beat Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls 117-96 behind Wall's third triple-double of the season Wednesday night.

Wall, an All-Star point guard, produced 29 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, outplaying Rose, who returned after missing two games with a strained left groin and finished with 16 points and four assists.

Wednesday, March 16 Scoreboard

Oklahoma City 130, Boston 109
    
Charlotte 107, Orlando 99
     
Cleveland 99, Dallas 98
    
Washington 117, Chicago 96

Atlanta 118, Detroit 114

Minnesota 114, Memphis 108

Los Angeles 122, Houston106

New Orleans 123, Sacramento 108
    
Golden State 121, New York 85

Thursday, March 17 Schedule (All Times Central)

Toronto at Indiana, 5 p.m.

Washington at Philadelphia, 5 p.m.

Charlotte at Miami, 5:30 p.m.

Denver at Atlanta, 6 p.m.

Brooklyn at Chicago, 6 p.m.

Memphis at Milwaukee, 6 p.m.

Portland at San Antonio, 6:30 p.m.

Phoenix at Utah, 7 p.m.