(Sports Network) - The Washington Wizards will try to extend their winning
streak Saturday night when they welcome the Phoenix Suns to the Verizon
Center.
The Wizards have won two in a row and four straight at home. This little
streak was extended Friday night when they toppled the New Orleans Hornets,
96-87.
Washington was led once again by the brilliant play of former No. 1 overall
pick, John Wall. He scored a season-high 29 points on 12-for-15 shooting,
including a perfect 3-for-3 from long range. Wall narrowly missed his third
straight double-double Friday when he handed out nine assists.
"I just got into a good rhythm," Wall said. "The last couple games I've been
feeling pretty good and able to knock down my shot. I think just shooting and
it's going in, think you make your first couple, you get a rhythm and you get
confidence. When you play with a lot of confidence you play at high level."
Over his last three, Wall has averaged 26.3 ppg and 11 apg.
On Friday, Martell Webster set a franchise record with a fourth game in a row
with at least four made 3-pointers. He finished with 18 points, while Garrett
Temple, Kevin Seraphin and Cartier Martin all had 10 points apiece. Martin
scored 10 in just over 10 minutes of action.
The Suns head to D.C. the losers of three straight and five of their last six.
Saturday will mark the end of a three-game road swing through the south that
has seen them lose to the Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks.
Phoenix fell to the Hawks on Friday night, 107-94. Goran Dragic led the way
with 21 points and eight assists. Jermaine O'Neal, Markieff Morris and Michael
Beasley all scored in double figures for a Suns team that committed 24
turnovers, which led to 21 Hawks points.
"That was pretty much the ball game for us," interim head coach Lindsey Hunter
said of the turnovers. "Some of our shots were like turnovers."
The Suns have averaged 21.6 turnovers per game during this losing streak.
"I know a part of it is the mixture of guys we're playing together," Hunter
explained. "But I tell our guys that we have to play with the teammates that
are out there."
The Suns play four straight and six of their next seven at home after they
leave Washington on Saturday. For Phoenix, it seems to be about finishing the
season as well as possible and put to bed a disappointing and demanding
2012-13 campaign.
"It's tough but everybody is a professional, and we have to play right to the
end of the season," said Dragic. "Everybody has to defend our colors, our
city, and play for the fans as much as possible."
The Suns have won 10 straight against the Wizards, including six in a row in
D.C.
The Sports Network