Final
Red-hot Wall leads Wizards against setting Suns
Mar 16, 2013 - 1:48 PM (Sports Network) - The Washington Wizards will try to extend their winning streak Saturday night when they welcome the Phoenix Suns to the Verizon Center.The Wizards have won two in a row and four straight at home. This little streak was extended Friday night when they toppled the New Orleans Hornets, 96-87.
Washington was led once again by the brilliant play of former No. 1 overall pick, John Wall. He scored a season-high 29 points on 12-for-15 shooting, including a perfect 3-for-3 from long range. Wall narrowly missed his third straight double-double Friday when he handed out nine assists.
"I just got into a good rhythm," Wall said. "The last couple games I've been feeling pretty good and able to knock down my shot. I think just shooting and it's going in, think you make your first couple, you get a rhythm and you get confidence. When you play with a lot of confidence you play at high level."
Over his last three, Wall has averaged 26.3 ppg and 11 apg.
On Friday, Martell Webster set a franchise record with a fourth game in a row with at least four made 3-pointers. He finished with 18 points, while Garrett Temple, Kevin Seraphin and Cartier Martin all had 10 points apiece. Martin scored 10 in just over 10 minutes of action.
The Suns head to D.C. the losers of three straight and five of their last six. Saturday will mark the end of a three-game road swing through the south that has seen them lose to the Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks.
Phoenix fell to the Hawks on Friday night, 107-94. Goran Dragic led the way with 21 points and eight assists. Jermaine O'Neal, Markieff Morris and Michael Beasley all scored in double figures for a Suns team that committed 24 turnovers, which led to 21 Hawks points.
"That was pretty much the ball game for us," interim head coach Lindsey Hunter said of the turnovers. "Some of our shots were like turnovers."
The Suns have averaged 21.6 turnovers per game during this losing streak.
"I know a part of it is the mixture of guys we're playing together," Hunter explained. "But I tell our guys that we have to play with the teammates that are out there."
The Suns play four straight and six of their next seven at home after they leave Washington on Saturday. For Phoenix, it seems to be about finishing the season as well as possible and put to bed a disappointing and demanding 2012-13 campaign.
"It's tough but everybody is a professional, and we have to play right to the end of the season," said Dragic. "Everybody has to defend our colors, our city, and play for the fans as much as possible."
The Suns have won 10 straight against the Wizards, including six in a row in D.C.
- PHOENIX: 105
WASHINGTON: 127
Final
Mar 16 9:22 PM - PHOENIX: 83
WASHINGTON: 102
End of 3rd
Mar 16 8:54 PM - PHOENIX: 59
WASHINGTON: 66
Halftime
Mar 16 8:13 PM - PHOENIX: 29
WASHINGTON: 27
End of 1st
Mar 16 7:36 PM - PHOENIX: 0
WASHINGTON: 0
1st Quarter - 11:35
Mar 16 7:13 PM
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