NEW ORLEANS — — Daniel Gafford had a season-high 21 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots as the Washington Wizards defeated the five-game winning streak New Orleans Pelicans 113-103 on Saturday night. .
Bradley Beal scored 9 of 16 points in the 4th quarter and Deni Avdija scored 13 points for Washington.
Washington led for most of the game, by up to 16 points when Kendrick Nunn’s driving layup made it 96-80 with 8:16 remaining.
That’s when the Pelicans suddenly gained momentum with a 10-0 run that included Brandon Ingram’s fadeaway and Herb Jones’ breakaway dunk.
New Orleans looked like they had a chance to pull in within three when Jose Alvarado called Washington for the first foul while driving into the hoop. . Moments later, Beal hit a pullup when fouled by Ingram, completing a three-point play to make it 100–92.
The Pelicans didn’t stay within 6 points after that.
Corey Kispert and Nunn each scored 12 for Washington, and Kyle Kuzma added 10.
CJ McCallum scored 24 points for the Pelicans. Brandon his Ingram was in his second game since his 29th straight loss with a left big toe injury, scoring his 22 points on 8-of-22 shooting.
New Orleans will have to play most of the game without top rebounder Jonas Valanciunas, who was ejected after an elbow hit Taj Gibson in the head as the Pelicans center moved toward the basket with the ball in hand. I had to. Valanciunas said the contact was inadvertent, but after a video review, officials ruled it a Flagrant-2 foul.
Valanciunas laughed in disbelief as he walked toward the tunnel leading to the locker room.
Gafford scored 14 points in the first half, highlighted by Rob’s soaring alley-oop jam on Beale, while the center caught one over his head and slammed hard in one move.
Washington led most of the first half as the Wizards rebounded New Orleans 29–19 and converted nine offensive rebounds into 17 second-chance points.
McCallum scored 14 points in the first two periods to keep the Pelicans within single digits.
Dron Wright’s driving finger roll with time out made it 59-50 at halftime.
tip in
Wizards: Kristaps Porzingis out three straight games with ankle injury. …Monte Morris scored 10 points after returning from a sore right hamstring that sidelined him in Houston Wednesday. Earned. … on rebounds he beat New Orleans 53-42 … 13 offenses. …45.5% shot (40 of 88), including 11 of his 36 from deep positions.
Pelicans: Trey Murphy III, who scored 10, fumbled a two-handed alley-oop dunk attempt in transition early in the fourth quarter. …Ingram has scored 20 goals in nine of his 17 games played this season. …his 42.4% shooting percentage (39 of 92) for New Orleans, including his 8 of 29 3-pointers from his range. … All-Star His Power His forward Zion Williamson missed 13 straight games with a right hamstring injury.
next
Wizard: Monday in San Antonio.
Pelicans: Sunday in Milwaukee.
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