WASHINGTON — The Washington Wizards have played tough defence since the All-Star break. They answered another big challenge on Tuesday night.
John Wall had 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists, helping the Wizards to a 109-89 win over Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans.
Marcin Gortat had 21 points and 11 rebounds for Washington, which pulled away in the second half of its season-high fourth straight home win. Jared Dudley scored 18 points on six 3-pointers and helped hold Davis in check after he had a monster game at Detroit.
"Tonight we kept giving him different looks, never let him feel comfortable, and anytime I could put pressure on him I did," Dudley said.
The Wizards have won three of four since the break, holding their opponent under 90 points in each victory.
Wall was 5 for 17 from the field in his second triple-double of the season and fifth of his career. He also had two steals in 31 1/2 minutes.
Davis grabbed 20 more rebounds, but was held to just nine points on 3-for-9 shooting. The All-Star forward had 59 points and 20 rebounds in a 111-106 victory against the Pistons on Sunday.
"They had a guy playing behind him and in front of him the entire game," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said. "We had to have other guys step up and make shots, and we just didn’t shoot the ball very well."
It was the first time this season that Davis failed to score in double figures when he played at least 20 minutes.
"It’s tough," he said. "You never get in a rhythm, sometimes you don’t touch the ball, but that’s why you have teammates — other guys gotta play off of that and try to make it work."
Jrue Holiday had 20 points and seven assists for New Orleans, which had won four of five to remain on the fringe of the Western Conference playoff hunt. Ryan Anderson scored 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting.
Leading 54-51, the Wizards opened the third quarter with a 14-0 run.
Dudley hit a 3-pointer, fed Gortat for a layup and nailed another 3 from the wing on consecutive trips.
"I thought that third quarter, we just jumped right on it," Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. "Ball movement, defence, our guys, I’ve got to give them a lot of credit."
Three possessions later, Dudley struck again for his sixth 3. The crowd let out a collective groan when he missed from beyond the arc on the next trip, but Otto Porter rebounded and fed Wall, whose 3-pointer from the top of the key made it 68-51.
"A couple ones I wish I could have had back," Dudley said. "I got a little tired. I don’t think I’ve ever been tired shooting 3s, but that might have been the first time."
New Orleans was without starting centre Omer Asik, who sprained his ankle against the Pistons.
HE COULD HAVE SCORED MORE
Gentry was asked before the game what he liked best about Davis’ 59-point effort on Sunday.
"He’s still too doggone unselfish, to be honest with you, sometimes," a chuckling Gentry said. "I said ‘I’m going to have to tell you, these games don’t come along all the time, and you’ve got to take full advantage of them when they do.’ But that’s just who he is."
FITTING IN
Markieff Morris played 21 1/2 minutes and scored six points in his third game with the Wizards. Morris was acquired in a trade with Phoenix on Thursday.
"I thought he was really comfortable out there tonight," Wittman said. "He even called some plays … so I thought it was another good step for him tonight."
TIP-INS
Pelicans: Alexis Ajinca started in place of Asik, who Gentry said will miss about two weeks.
Wizards: G Gary Neal (sore right leg) was a late scratch and missed his sixth straight game.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: Host Oklahoma on Thursday.
Wizards: At Chicago on Wednesday.
