Wizards 90, Bulls 86
WASHINGTON -- John Wall had 27 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and Emeka Okafor scored the go-ahead dunk with 45.9 seconds remaining as the Washington Wizards rallied in the second half for a 90-86 win over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night at Verizon Center.
A.J. Price scored eight of his 13 points in the fourth quarter for the Wizards (28-46), who won their eighth straight home game. Washington trailed by 10 in the first half and never held more than a four-point lead. Okafor, Nene and Trevor Ariza each scored 10 points.
With the Bulls trailing 83-82 with 3:59 remaining, the referees called center Nazr Mohammed for basket interference on Kirk Hinrich's attempt at a running bank shot hung on the rim. Hinrich balked at the call, resulting in consecutive technical fouls and an ejection.
Wall made 11 of 13 free throws, but split the technicals, putting the Wizards ahead 84-82. After Mohammed's jump hook tied the game at 86-86 with 56 seconds remaining, the Wizards took the lead for good as a driving Nene fed Okafor inside. Ariza tacked on two free throws with eight seconds to play.
Carlos Boozer led the Bulls (40-33) with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Chicago shot 7 of 22 from the field in the fourth quarter and 39.3 percent overall.
The teams combined for one point during the opening 4:09 of the fourth quarter. Tied at 73-73, Price and Ariza combined for Washington's next 11 points with Price hitting two 3-pointers.
Chicago is in a race with the idle Brooklyn Nets (42-31) and Atlanta Hawks (42-33) for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
The Bulls committed only seven turnovers including just one in the first half, but lost possession four times in the fourth quarter.
Wall scored 14 points in the first half, equally Washington's four other starters, but the Wizards trailed 49-42 at halftime.
Bulls forward Taj Gibson left the game in the first half with a left knee injury and did not return.
NOTES: The teams split the previous two matchups, each winning at home. The fourth and final meeting comes April 17 at Chicago. ... The Bulls' Marco Belinelli (abdominal strain), Richard Hamilton (lower back) and Joakim Noah (right foot) were inactive and remain day-to-day. Derrick Rose (left knee) remains sidelined. ... The last time the Wizards won at least eight consecutive home games was Dec. 13, 2006-Jan. 20, 2007, when they won 10 straight. ... Wall became the fourth player to have at least 370 points, 135 assists and 80 rebounds in the month of March since 1989, joining Chris Paul, LeBron James and Michael Jordan. ... The Wizards play Wednesday in Toronto against the Raptors, while the Bulls stay on the road to the face the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday.
