It is not going strong, on the side of the reigning champions. On Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers recorded a third straight loss. After Brooklyn (109-98) Thursday and Miami (96-94) Saturday, it was the Washington Wizards who beat the California franchise (127-124 AD). Each time, the Lakers have also bowed at home.
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They are still deprived of Anthony Davis, one of their centerpieces, away from the floors for a month after injuring an Achilles tendon. Washington, for its part, keeps smiling. By beating the Lakers, they extended their winning streak to five. What the franchise of the US capital had not known for three years.
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Beal and Westbrook mercilessly for the Lakers
In the ranks of “Magicians”, the Bradley Beal – Russell Westbrook tandem hurt the Lakers. The first planted 33 points (plus seven rebounds and six assists) and the second cracked a nice double-double (32 points, 14 rebounds).
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In his last five matches, Beal, top scorer in the NBA (32.9 pts on average), has scored more than 30 points on four occasions. Westbrook, meanwhile, posted his second best performance of the season, after his 41 points against Brooklyn on February 1.
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Los Angeles was 17 points ahead
Los Angeles had yet made a better start against Washington, leading 63-49 at the break and bringing its lead to 17 points after the locker room (70-53, 27th). But the Wizards caught up with a California defense that suffered from Davis’ absence. And they even ended up escaping the score (102-94, 43rd).
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The Lakers however returned, carried by LeBron James, who came close to the triple-double (31 points, nine rebounds, 13 assists), and Montrezl Harrell (from the bench, 26 points in 23 minutes). In this final quarter, Bradley Beal had suddenly gone silent, settling for four points on the free throw. He even missed the shoot that could have allowed his team to win, a second from the buzzer.
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Beal decisive in extra time
But, in overtime, the NBA top scorer has regained his splendor. He scored six of his team’s 12 points and the Wizards led the extra five minutes. Los Angeles could have equalized and snatched another overtime, but LeBron James and Kyle Kuzma missed their attempt by three points.
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Uncomfortable at home, the Californians may find their way back to victory in their next game, which will be away on Thursday. But it will be on the floor of Utah Jazz, leader of the Western Conference, who has just beaten Charlotte (132-110) and has 10 wins in 11 matches … Washington, him, will stay in California, since face the Clippers on Wednesday.
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