December 24, 2024

Wizards stun Nets, 149-146, with 8-0 run in final seconds capped by Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook

Beal #Beal

WASHINGTON — Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook hit 3-pointers in a wild 3.8-second sequence in the final seconds to help the Washington Wizards stun Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets, 149-146, on Sunday night.

Westbrook had 41 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and NBA scoring leader Beal had 37 points. In the fourth quarter, Beal had 22 points and Westbrook had 15. Durant, second in the NBA in scoring, also had 37 points.

With Washington down 146-141, Beal hit a 3-pointer with 8.1 seconds left. Garrison Matthews deflected Joe Harris’ inbounds pass to Westbrook and he made a 3 with 4.3 seconds left for a 147-146 lead.

Kyrie Irving found Timothe Luwawu-Carbarrot under the basket with 2.9 seconds left, but his layup attempt spun around the rim and failed to drop. Beal added two free throws with 0.7 seconds left as the Wizards broke a four-game losing streak and improved to a still NBA-worst 4-12.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, in the past 25 seasons, teams are now 9-23,498 when trailing by five or more in the final 10 seconds of the game. However, the Wizards’ comeback marked the second straight day it happened after Portland rallied to beat Chicago, 123-122, on Saturday after trailing by five with 11.5 seconds left.

Harris scored a career-high 30 points, and Irving had 26 for Brooklyn. The Nets had won four in a row.

James Harden sat out because of a thigh contusion, the first game he has missed since being traded from Houston to Brooklyn on Jan. 13.

Westbrook has set season scoring highs in back-to-back games. He entered the game averaging 18.9 points, his lowest output since his second season in 2009-10.

The Wizards are 1-4 since resuming play after a 13-day layoff that included six postponements due to COVID-19 related issues.

Nets: Bruce Brown started with Harden out and finished with three points in 32 minutes and picked up a technical in the fourth quarter after some words with Westbrook. Westbrook also was called for a technical. … Jeff Green scored a season-high 23 points, but Brooklyn fell to 8-3 when Green reaches double figures.

Wizards: Coach Scott Brooks picked up a technical in the first quarter. … Beal had just 11 points in the first half. … Davis Bertans was 3 for 12 on 3-pointers and finished with 11 points…

Nets: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.

Wizards: Host Portland on Tuesday night.

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