John Wall made his return to DC but was outdueled by former teammate Bradley Beal
In his first game back in D.C. since being traded to Houston, John Wall recorded season-highs in points with 29 and assists with 11. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for the reeling Rockets, as they fell for a sixth straight time, losing to the Wizards, 131-119. Despite his totals, Wall struggled from the floor, converting just 10-of-26 shots and just 1-of-7 of his 3-pointers.
In nine seasons in Washington, Wall earned five consecutive All-Star nods from 2013-2017 along with an All-NBA Defensive team honor in 2014-15 and All-NBA in 2016-17. He was thought of as one of the best all-around point guards in the league, averaging close to a double-double (19.1 PPG, 9.2 APG) with the Wizards. However, he struggled to stay healthy his last three years in D.C., never topping more than 41 GP, including missing all of last season. The former 2010 No. 1 overall pick has been solid for the Rockets this season, averaging 20.0 PPG and 6.2 APG.
Wall’s former backcourt mate in the D.C., Bradley Beal, dropped 37 points for the Wizards, who followed up Sunday’s surprising win over Boston with another victory over Houston. In the midst of his best season as a pro, Beal has taken off the last two years without Wall.
Always a threat to put the ball in the basket, he has now become one of the most prolific scoring guards in the league. Beal upped his average from a career-high 30.5 PPG last season to a league-leading 33.1 this year. Unfortunately for him, his team around him has struggled mightily, leading to plenty of speculation about his future in the nation’s capital but DC is 5-5 over their last 10 games, hanging on to a chance at postseason contention.
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