Washington, Apr 28 (EFE) .- Once again the combination of guard Bradley Beal and point guard Russell Westbrook, who recovered the triple-double path, was the key that allowed the Washington Wizards to win 116-107 to inconsistent Los Angeles Lakers, who continue to lose without star forward LeBron James.
The loss was the fourth suffered by the Lakers (36-26) in the last five games played, which increasingly move them away from being among the four best in the Western Conference.
While the Wizards (28-34) are closer to ensuring a pass to the Eastern Conference play-in by consolidating in 10th place.
Beal finished as the leading scorer with 27 points, including three triples, also keeping him at the top of the league as the leading scorer.
Westbrook had 18 points, 18 rebounds and 14 assists, in what was his thirteenth triple-double of the month of April, the best record of all time in the NBA.
He also posted 30 triple-doubles so far this season and reaches 176 as a professional, five less than the best record of all time held by Oscar Robertson (181).
Westbrook still has 10 more regular-season competition to tie or beat Robertson’s mark.
The Wizards were up 69-67 at the start of the second half when they used a 16-2 streak to consolidate the score in their favor and take an 85-69 lead with about two and a half minutes left in the third quarter.
Japanese power forward Rui Hachimura scored 12 points and Ukrainian power forward Alex Len contributed 18 points and nine rebounds as a starter for the Wizards.
Brazilian guard Raúl Neto played 23 minutes out of reserve for the Wizards and scored five points, grabbed two defensive rebounds and gave two assists.
Neto hit 2 of 4 field goals, including the only triple he made, did not go to the personnel line, and lost a ball.
The good news for the Lakers was to see how the starting center played his best game since he returned with the team four games ago after missing 30 due to a strained right calf by contributing 26 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter.
Davis also had five rebounds, handed out two assists, recovered three balls, lost another three and put up two blocks.
Andre Drummond was once again the best in the inside game with a double-double of 17 points, 11 rebounds and two assists, while reserve guard Ben McLemore reached 16 points as the sixth player.
James has been out of the game for more than a month with a sprained right ankle, a 20-game absence during which the Lakers are 8-12 losing and have fallen to fifth place in the Western Conference standings.
(c) EFE Agency