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Jan 16, 2016 - 5:16 AM The last time the Washington Wizards reached the .500 mark, they immediately dropped five of six and fell into another hole.

They can move over the break-even mark for the first time in more than seven weeks Saturday night, though they have a tough task in hosting a Boston Celtics club that has trounced them twice.

Washington (19-19) matched its highest scoring effort of the season with Friday's 118-104 victory at Indiana. John Wall had 28 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, and Bradley Beal came off the bench for 22 points.

The Wizards last had a winning record when they were 6-5 going into a loss at Charlotte on Nov. 25. They last were at .500 after a four-game run Dec. 26 but quickly fell four under the break-even mark six games later.

"Hopefully the team is not talking about it and we don't talk about it, me personally about being at .500 and trying to get above," Wall said. "Every time we do that, we end up going on a losing streak and going three or four games below."

Beal has played twice since missing 16 games with a stress reaction in his lower right leg. His minutes are being restricted and he logged just under 22 against the Pacers, making 9 of 15 shots.

"It was just me getting into my rhythm," Beal said. "Because I knew I was on limited minutes so I've got to be as aggressive as I can at the time that I have."

Wall's 31 minutes were the most on the team, as the Wizards scored a season-high 67 points from their bench and were able to rest their starters with Saturday's contest in mind.

''Our bench was fantastic tonight,'' coach Randy Wittman said. ''We've got guys, plug-in guys, you know? We've got a group of guys that believe, who come out and play with the intensity and effort every night like that.''

Wall has a tough matchup against Isaiah Thomas after totaling 23 points, 14 assists and 11 turnovers in two games against the Celtics. Thomas has 37, 11 and five in those departments with Boston winning by an average of 26.5 points.

Another key to those victories was Boston made 12 3-pointers in each.

The Celtics (21-19) are one of the NBA's worst 3-point shooting teams at 32.4 percent. They made 14 of 30 for their second-best percentage of 46.7 in Friday's 117-103 win over Phoenix.

''We needed a night where we shot the ball well from 3, so it was good to see the ball go through the net some,'' coach Brad Stevens said.

Thomas scored 19 after averaging 32.3 in his previous three games. Kelly Olynyk had 21 points in his second straight game off the bench since being replaced in the lineup at center by Jared Sullinger.

Sullinger has totaled 39 points and 23 rebounds against Washington this season.

The Celtics have dropped three straight on the road while the Wizards have lost three of four at the Verizon Center entering a five-game homestand that Wittman is trying not to emphasize.

"It's not a pivotal stretch," Wittman said. "That's what happens when you view five games as a pivotal stretch. Then you forget those other games, those other five after that aren't pivotal, then you don't play very well."