Wall, Wizards Hold On For Win Over Lakers

By ESPN

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball's cold-shooting start to his NBA career just keeps getting worse. For a change, the Washington Wizards managed to play the sort of defense that contributes to limiting an opponent's scoring.

John Wall and the Wizards managed to make a double-digit edge hold up against the Lakers this time, with the All-Star point guard scoring 23 points and Bradley Beal adding 22 while Washington held Ball to 3 for 12 on field-goal tries in a 111-95 victory over L.A. on Thursday night.

"They had an off-shooting night," Wizards coach Scott Brooks said, "but we participated in that."

Ball, who had 10 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, finished the night shooting 29.2 percent so far in the pros. That's the second-worst through a player's first 12 games in the shot-clock era, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Asked about people constantly analyzing his unusual shooting motion -- it looks something like a right-handed shot put released from the left side of his head -- the No. 2 overall draft pick said: "I really don't even care, to be honest. I know I've got to just keep shooting and just improve it every game."

Lakers coach Luke Walton's take?

"He's an incredible player. He's 20 years old. He almost had a triple-double tonight. But any time you turn on any sports show, all they talk about is his shot," Walton said. "Is it extra pressure? One hundred percent. He's a rook who ... gets dissected by everybody."

Washington's Otto Porter Jr. finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Markieff Morris scored 16 points, including a pair of 3s to open the third quarter.

Coming off a home loss in which they never held a lead against the NBA-worst Dallas Mavericks, the Wizards went up by as many as 21 against the Lakers, at 91-70 on Porter's turnaround fadeaway jumper with about 75 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

When these teams played each other in Los Angeles last month in the fourth game of the season for each, the Wizards led by 10 points entering the fourth quarter before the Lakers wound up winning 102-99 in overtime.

This time, L.A. pulled to 93-84 on Julius Randle's two-handed slam with about 8 minutes left. But a 3 by Beal soon built the hosts' advantage back to 15.

Defense has seemed to optional at times for the Wizards this season. But they held the Lakers to 36 percent Thursday.

"That's been one of our downfalls -- ball-watching too much and trying to steal it in the backcourt and leaving our transition at risk of getting scored on," Beal said. "It was definitely a demand of Coach's: Get back in transition. Make sure we're defending our guy. Take pride in it."

 

Thursday, November 9 Scoreboard

Washington 111, Los Angeles Lakers 95

Toronto 122, New Orleans 118

Houston 117, Cleveland 113

Sacramento 109, Philadelphia 108

Denver 102, Oklahoma City 94

 

Friday, November 10 Schedule (All Times Central)

Atlanta at Detroit, 6 p.m.

Charlotte at Boston, 6:30 p.m.

Indiana at Chicago, 7 p.m.

Los Angeles Clippers at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

Milwaukee at San Antonio, 8 p.m.

Orlando at Phoenix, 8 p.m.

Miami at Utah, 8 p.m.

Brooklyn at Portland, 9 p.m.

Saturday, November 11 Schedule (All Times Central)

Atlanta at Washington, 6 p.m.

Los Angeles Clippers at New Orleans, 6 p.m.

Sacramento at New York, 7 p.m.

Memphis at Houston, 7 p.m.

Cleveland at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.

Los Angeles Lakers at Milwaukee, 7:30 p.m.

Chicago at San Antonio, 7:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at Golden State, 7:30 p.m.

Orlando at Denver, 8 p.m.

Minnesota at Phoenix, 8 p.m.

Brooklyn at Utah, 8 p.m.

Sunday, November 12 Schedule (All Times Central)

Toronto at Boston, 2:30 p.m.

Miami at Detroit, 3 p.m.

Houston at Indiana, 5 p.m.

Dallas at Oklahoma City, 6 p.m.