Bradley Beal Scores Career-High 51 Points as Wizards Down Blazers
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Bradley Beal scored a career-high 51 points, and the Washington Wizards bounced back from a demoralizing loss the night before to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 106-92 on Tuesday night.
Beal made 21 field goals, also a career high, and the Wizards led by as many as 23 points. He hit five 3-pointers.
Damian Lillard finished with 30 points, eight rebounds and nine assists for the Blazers, who have lost three straight at home after returning from a 4-1 trip.
Portland was hurt midway through the final quarter when center Jusuf Nurkic limped off the court and to the locker room after appearing to injure his right ankle. He had 15 points and nine rebounds before leaving.
The Wizards were coming off a 116-69 loss Monday night at Utah, the second-largest losing margin in franchise history.
Playing without All-Star John Wall for the sixth straight game, the Wizards came out like they did not want a repeat of the night before. They went on an 11-0 run to go up 31-22 in the first half, capped by Kelly Oubre Jr.’s pull-up jumper, and went on to lead 51-37 at the break.
Beal scored 19 first-half points, and the Wizards collectively had 12 steals by the break.
Portland, meanwhile, had 13 turnovers at the half.
Beal’s 20-foot jumper gave the Wizards a 61-38 lead in the third quarter, but the Blazers clawed back to within 63-52 on Lillard’s 3-pointer and a free throw.
Lillard appeared to tweak his left hip late in the quarter, and at times he grimaced — but he had 15 points in the period to help keep the Blazers in it.
CJ McCollum’s layup got Portland within 81-72, but Beal answered with a 3-pointer that put him over his previous career high. Beal had 42 points against Phoenix on Nov. 21 last year.
Al-Farouq Aminu made a 3-pointer that pulled Portland within 99-90 with 1:28 left, but that was as close as Portland would come. Beal dunked with 24 seconds left to punctuate his performance.
Portland coach Terry Stotts tinkered a bit with his lineup, starting Aminu and Maurice Harkless, while sending Pat Connaughton and Noah Vonleh to the bench.
The Blazers were coming off a 123-116 loss to New Orleans on Saturday.
