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Wall carries Wizards over Knicks

Nov 24, 2013 - 7:09 AM Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) - John Wall torched New York for 31 points and seven assists as the Washington Wizards topped the Knicks, 98-89, from Verizon Center.

Washington trailed 52-49 at intermission, but the Knicks' starting unit managed just seven points in the third period as the Wizards gained momentum and eventually pulled away.

Marcin Gortat had his way down low, tallying 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting with 17 rebounds for Washington, which won for the third time in four tries after dropping four in a row.

"We can't get excited about winning," Gortat said. "We have to bring energy ever game, have to be focused, have to be humbled and have to work together."

Martell Webster and Bradley Beal added 19 and 18 points, respectively.

Carmelo Anthony paced New York with 23 points and 12 boards. J.R. Smith chipped in 15 points off the bench as the Knicks fell to 2-6 since losing Tyson Chandler to a right knee injury in a Nov. 5 tilt against Charlotte.

The Wizards opened the decisive third quarter on a 13-4 burst, which Beal capped with a mid-range jumper at the 8:10 mark. Washington led 62-56 at that point and maintained at least a three-point edge the rest of the way.

A pair of Wall free throws midway through the frame put the hosts in front by nine, and they took a 76-69 advantage into the final period.

Webster knocked down a pair of treys on consecutive Washington possessions midway through the fourth after Anthony cut New York's deficit to three with his jumper at 8:11.

Wall, who had 37 points in a loss at Toronto Friday, put the game away with free throws late.

"He's playing well," Knicks coach Mike Woodson said of Wall. "I like everything about him. He had an awesome night last night and came back tonight and duplicated it."

Earlier, Amare Stoudemire provided a boost for the depleted Knicks' frontcourt when he connected on all five of his first-half shots, including the first two buckets of the second quarter and an emphatic transition dunk midway through the period.

Game Notes

Stoudemire scored 12 points, while Andrea Bargnani had 11 and a season-high five assists ... New York's bench outscored Washington's reserves, 43-6 ... Every Washington starter recorded at least 34 minutes ... Washington hosts the Lakers on Tuesday before going on the road for a pair of games. The Knicks travel to Portland on Monday.