(SportsNetwork.com) – The Washington Wizards earned their biggest victory of
the season last time out, and they’ll try to avoid letting up Saturday night
when they visit the Bradley Center to face the Milwaukee Bucks.
The knock on the Wizards thus far this season was that they didn’t beat a
great team, but that changed Friday. Washington prevailed at home over LeBron
James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, 91-78.
All-Star guar John Wall dropped in 28 points to lead the way in Washington’s
fourth win in five games.
Wall outshined Cleveland’s star-studded starting unit by hitting 12-of-20
shots and dishing out seven assists to go along with four steals and six
rebounds. His terrific performance, coupled with a strong defensive effort by
his Washington teammates, improved the rising Wizards to 8-3 on the young
season.
Cleveland shot a subpar 36 percent as a team and committed 19 turnovers that
led to 24 Washington points.
“I was really pleased with our defense,” Wizards head coach Randy Wittman
said.
Bradley Beal, in just his second game back after wrist surgery, and Kevin
Seraphin, chipped in 12 points apiece. Seraphin had three blocks and six
boards in a disruptive performance.
Nene finished with 10.
The Wizards shot a respectable 48.8 percent from the floor and 40 percent from
long range. Washington’s bench outscored Cleveland’s 40-9.
Washington plays five of its next seven at home.
The Bucks had a three-game winning streak obliterated on Friday night with a
124-83 setback in Toronto to the Raptors.
Friday was Milwaukee’s third game in four nights and it doesn’t get easier on
Saturday.
“We didn’t do anything but travel yesterday, so I don’t think that was an
issue,” Bucks coach Jason Kidd said.
The Bucks were led by Jabari Parker’s 15 points, while Ersan Ilyasova netted
14 off the bench and Brandon Knight added 11.
Milwaukee allowed the Raptors, the team with the best record in the Eastern
Conference, to shoot 52.3 percent from the floor and 60 percent from behind
the 3-point arc.
The schedule doesn’t get lighter with the Wizards in town. Washington owns the
second-best record in the East.
The Wizards bested the Bucks by 11 in Washington on Nov. 1. That gives the
Wiz a three-game winning streak in the series and they’ve taken three straight
in Milwaukee.
