Wizards guard Bradley Beal continued his scoring onslaught even as John Wall was inserted back into Washington’s starting five.
Beal’s stand-out performance this week came as he scored 27 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished five assists in Washington’s matchup with Lebron James and the reigning Eastern Conference champions.
The game ended as a 106-99 loss for the Wiz but after the game, Lebron complimented Beal saying that the sixth-year player was balling at an all-star level this season.
LeBron was guarding Bradley Beal, so Beal dropped in a stepback 3. pic.twitter.com/BxuP49RUGd
— NBC Sports Wizards (@NBCSWizards) December 17, 2017
Take it from the King 👑@RealDealBeal23 is a star 🌟 pic.twitter.com/6AO2cveC6n
— NBC Sports Wizards (@NBCSWizards) December 18, 2017
Around the NBA, Celtics starting center Al Horford missed one game last week due to rest but made his presence felt in four other games this week as he continues to impress in his second year as a Boston Celtic. Horford has flirted with a triple-double on several occasions this season and was one assist shy on Monday of accomplishing the feat as he helped Boston to a 112-111 road-win over Indiana. Boston became the only team in the NBA this season to come back from at least a five-point deficit with 30 seconds left and get a win.
Grizzlies forward Chandler Parsons has played in 23 of the Grizzlies 30 games this season and is averaging 9.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. He helped Memphis get its only win of the week in a 96-94 win over the Atlanta Hawks with nine points, four assists and three rebounds. The win ended a five-game skid and kept the Grizzlies from having the worst record in the Western Conference.
Magic forward Marreese Speights has hit a cold spell and is just 4-of-33 from the field in the month of December and has not seen action four of Orlando’s nine games so far this month.
Lakers forward Corey Brewer was part of many highlight packages Monday night as he lead a fast break where he assisted Julius Randle as he dunked on last year’s NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant.
Julius Randle slams it all over KD. 😱 pic.twitter.com/uwvXfRPD8C
— Leading NBA (@LeadingNBA) December 19, 2017
Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith has not resumed practicing yet and is still dealing with the tendonitis in his knee that has kept him out for the past five weeks.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Boston Celtics
Al Horford (C)
Dallas Mavericks
Dorian Finney-Smith (F)
Los Angeles Lakers
Corey Brewer (F)
Memphis Grizzlies
Chandler Parsons (F)
Miami Heat
Udonis Haslem (F)
New York Knicks
Joakim Noah (C)
Orlando Magic
Marreese Speights (F)
Washington Wizards
Bradley Beal (G)
Devin Robinson (F) – G-League affiliate Delaware 87ers
