Final
Dragic, Bledsoe help Suns stay hot
Mar 27, 2014 - 4:23 AM Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) - Goran Dragic had 25 points, Eric Bledsoe scored 23 and the Phoenix Suns held on to beat the Washington Wizards, 99-93, on Wednesday for their season high-tying fifth straight win.The Suns led by 25 points in the third quarter, but the Wizards cut it all the way down to three after John Wall scored eight straight points, the last four on a dunk after dribbling the length of the court and an easy layup with no resistance from the Phoenix defense with 90 seconds left.
But Bledsoe knocked down a long 3-pointer at the other end and Wall missed a three for the Wizards, ending the rally.
Gerald Green had 18 points off the bench for the Suns, who have won seven of their last eight, including five in a row for the third time this season.
"I'm glad that we didn't panic. When we needed to stop their offense we did and we scored some easy baskets in transitions, hit some open 3's," Dragic said. "For us, it's really important because we have a perfect road trip and now we go home and hopefully cash the last spot for the playoffs."
Wall scored 29 and Marcin Gortat added 17 points for the Wizards, who have lost four of five.
Wizards guard Bradley Beal left the game late in the second quarter with a right hip pointer after going to the floor under the basket but returned in the third and had eight points.
The Suns snapped a three-game losing streak to Washington.
Wizards coach Randy Wittman said his team has struggled getting into an early groove at home, where Washington is .500 this season.
"We didn't have any intensity," said Wittman. "We just show up and see what the game is like and decide how hard we're going to play. That's what we've got to clean up."
Phoenix heated up late in the second quarter for a 10-point lead at halftime and scored 17 of the first 21 points in the third quarter to take a 23-point lead.
It reached 25 on a Markieff Morris jumper that made it 75-50 with 5 1/2 minutes left in the third. But the Wizards countered with a 17-2 run, capped by Wall's back-to-back 3-pointers.
That helped trim the lead to 10 entering the fourth quarter.
Earlier, the Suns led 25-23 after the first quarter and 54-44 at halftime behind a 12-1 run led by Dragic's five points. They shot 55 percent in the half and Dragic had 14 points.
Game Notes
The Suns went 3-0 on a road trip and return home to play the Knicks on Friday ... The Wizards started a three-game homestand that continues Friday against the Pacers.
Mar 26 9:18 PM- PHOENIX: 79
WASHINGTON: 69
End of 3rd
Mar 26 8:44 PM - PHOENIX: 54
WASHINGTON: 44
Halftime
Mar 26 8:05 PM - PHOENIX: 25
WASHINGTON: 23
End of 1st
Mar 26 7:36 PM - PHOENIX: 0
WASHINGTON: 0
1st Quarter - 11:38
Mar 26 7:13 PM
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