Wall, Young power Wizards past Thunder
WASHINGTON (AP)
John Wall scored 25 points, Nick Young had 24 and Jordan Crawford added 18 to lead Washington to a 105-102 victory over Oklahoma City on Wednesday night, snapping the Thunder's seven-game winning streak and giving the Wizards just their second win of the season.
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Bucks: Karl returns more mature
Clippers: GM building winner
Heat: LeBron vs. Kobe debate
Lakers: Aging Fisher still clutch
Magic: Will Howard be like Duncan?
Rockets: Lee steps up in return
Wizards: Amateur hour in DC
Wolves: Ridnour-Rubio backcourt
Oklahoma City lost for only the third time in 15 games getting 69 points from Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. During one stretch bridging the second and third quarters, the duo accounted for 21 of the Thunder's 23 points. Both slowed down after resting at the start of the fourth, missing 11 of 17 from the field.
Wall also had eight assists, seven rebounds and made 13 of 14 from the line.
Washington, which is still a leauge-worst 2-12, proved to be pesky while breaking a four-game losing streak. After trailing by nine with 2:31 to play in the third quarter, the Wizards used strong 3-point shooting to take an 88-85 lead with 6:43 remaining. Washington started 0 for 6 on 3s before making 7 of 10 - including four by Young - late in the third and early in the fourth.
The Thunder took an 84-81 lead with 8:09 to play, but then hit just one field goal in the next seven minutes.
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Washington led 94-90 with 50.9 seconds left, but its lead could have been even greater as JaVale McGee missed four free throws in just over a minute and Young, who led the NBA in free throw percentage before the game, missed three - two in the final minute.
With the Wizards ahead 96-92, Durant was called for an offensive foul with 38.8 seconds remaining. He also missed a 3 with 1.9 seconds left that would have tied the score.
Andray Blatche, who started for the first time in six games, was booed in pregame introductions, and as the Wizards started by missing nine of 11 from the field, the crowd booed more heartily.
The Thunder took a 51-46 halftime lead when Durant stole the ball from Crawford, dished to Westbrook, who returned it with a lovely behind-the-back pass to Durant, who dunked it with a flourish. Moments later, he hit a fadeaway jumper and was fouled and converted the free throw.
As the Wizards took a brief lead, Westbrook kept Oklahoma City in the game with 10 second-quarter points.
