Wizards 116, Lakers 111
WASHINGTON -- Los Angeles star Kobe Bryant talked contract extension pregame, but Washington point guard John Wall and power forward Nene provided a wealth of offense as The Wizards defeated the Lakers 116-111 on Tuesday night.
Wall scored 13 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter, his third straight game with at least 30 points for the Wizards (6-8), who have won four of five games. Nene scored a career-high 30 points and small forward Martell Webster had 20 as Washington snapped Los Angeles' three-game winning streak
Guard Jordan Farmar made 9 of 11 shots including three of the Lakers' 13 3-pointers and finished with 22 points. Los Angeles (7-8) had seven players score in double figures including center Pau Gasol with 17.
The Wizards matched their season-high point total despite the absence of leading scorer and starting guard Bradley Beal.
Webster's 3-pointer with midway through the fourth quarter gave Washington its largest lead at 96-87, but the Lakers rallied . Gasol's layup with 1:54 remaining gave Los Angeles its first lead of the period at 108-107. Wall's jumper 20 seconds later put the Wizards in front for good and started a 6-0 spurt. Wall made five of six free throws in the final 29 seconds before the crowd of 19,204.
Before the game, Bryant spoke with media for the first time since reports surfaced that the Lakers signed their franchise star to a two-year, $48.5 million extension.
The 35-year-old tore his Achilles tendon in April and has only recently returned to practice. Bryant wouldn't set a target date for his season debut, but acknowledged the need for more practices before game action. The Lakers have four days off before playing at Sacramento on December 6. The organization didn't need to wait for his return before agreeing to the extension.
"It makes me want to run through a wall for them," Bryant said. "It adds more fuel to the fire to be able to come out and prove to everybody that they're right. Everybody else is wrong."
Earlier in the day, the Wizards announced Beal has been diagnosed with a stress injury in his right fibula and will miss at least two weeks. Beal several games last season with a similar injury.
"We're taking the right precautions," Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. "Take a couple of weeks off, and hopefully that will do the trick."
Nene scored 19 points as the Wizards led 59-55 at halftime. Both teams shot over 57 percent from the field in the first half. The Lakers made 8 of 13 three-point attempts before halftime.
Forward Trevor Ariza replaced Beal in the starting lineup after missing the last five games with a strained right hamstring and scored 13 points.
NOTES: During his pregame press conference, Lakers G Kobe Bryant was asked about fan reaction that centers on his contract extension not leaving the team enough financial flexibility over the next two seasons. "They are fans and have good intentions, good spirit about it, but I don't think they understand the cap or what strategically the Lakers are trying to do better than the Lakers, Bryant said. "I think we'll be all right." ... Lakers C Chris Kaman missed his third straight game with a sore back. ... Wizards F Chris Singleton was on the active roster and played for the first time this season after suffering a fractured left foot this offseason. ...The Lakers face the Nets on Brooklyn on Wednesday. ...Washington opens a two-game road swing against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
