Beal scores 28 as Wizards beat Bucks 102-90

[February 12, 2013]  MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Rookie Brandon Beal scored a season-high 28 points as the Washington Wizards beat the Milwaukee Bucks 102-90 Monday night, earning a rare road win.

Washington has won four consecutive games and 11 of 18. The Wizards are 10-7 since John Wall returned from injury and won for only the fourth time in 25 road games this year.

Monta Ellis had 24 points, seven rebounds and eight assists for Milwaukee, and Ersan Ilyasova added 19 points and nine rebounds. Leading-scorer Brandon Jennings was held to seven points, missing 14 of 17 shots.

The Bucks have dropped four consecutive games and six of seven, but hold the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They didn't lose any ground to the team closest to them as Philadelphia lost 107-90 to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Beal, who played one year at Florida before being selected by Washington with the third pick in last year's draft, shot 10 for 17 from the field -- including 4 for 5 on 3-pointers.

The Wizards scored nine consecutive points to take control of the game midway through the fourth quarter. Nene scored the first five points, A.J. Price scored on a layup and Beal capped the streak with two free throws to make it 90-78 with 6:35 left.

The Bucks pulled to 96-90 on a 3 by Jennings with 2:35 left, but Nene backed down the smaller Ilyasova and scored on a layup with 2:15 left to make it 98-90.

Nene then easily intercepted a pass from Samuel Dalembert under the basket. Wall was fouled and converted both free throws to put Washington up 10 with 1:45 to go.

Nene dominated down low with Milwaukee forward Larry Sanders missing his third consecutive game due to a bone bruise in his lower back. He had 21 points on 10 of 13 shooting with 13 rebounds and six assists.

Beal scored 16 points in the first half and Washington led 55-47 at halftime. Beal's 3-pointer made it 47-44 with 3:24 left in the second quarter.

Milwaukee scored 32 points in the first quarter, but had trouble scoring the rest of the way. The Bucks were the ninth consecutive team to score less than 100 points against the Wizards.

NOTES: It was the Wizards' first road win against an Eastern Conference team after opening the season with 14 consecutive losses. ... Sanders will seek a second opinion since the injury didn't seem to be healing. ... Bucks F Marquis Daniels returned to the team after missing a game for personal reasons.

[Associated Press]

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