Bradley Beal scored a game-high 32 and the Washington Wizards tied a franchise record with 18 3-pointers en route to 113-106 home win Friday over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Milwaukee played without superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who sat with quad and hip injuries. But the injury-ravaged Wizards showed their guests little sympathy.
“I don’t look and I know our guys don’t look about injuries, nor do we complain about our injuries,” said Wizards head coach Scott Brooks. “You got out there and play. [The Bucks] won their two games without him. They beat Cleveland and they beat Toronto. They are a good team.”
Milwaukee (29-12) came into the District with the second-highest number of victories in the Eastern Conference, number one in the league in total rebounds and scoring, and fifth in field goal percentage.
However, the Bucks shot below its 48 percent field goal average and tied the Wizards with 43 team rebounds. Washington ranks 28 out of 30 teams in rebounding.
Washington (18-25) ranks near the bottom in 3-point percentage, but shot 18 of 33 (54.5 percent.
Milwaukee outscored Washington 50-36 in the paint and 15-9 on second-chance points, but it wasn’t enough.
Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon, who played his college ball at the University of Virginia, credited Wizards veteran Jeff Green, who scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter.
“I thought Green was terrific tonight,” said Brogdon, who scored 15 points and dished out eight assists. “He knocked down shots when they needed it. Defensively, we can be a lot better.”
Tomas Satoransky recorded his first career triple-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
Satoransky, who took over at point guard late last month after John Wall elected to have season-ending heel surgery, recorded the feat after his 10th assist on an alley-oop pass to Beal. The team showered him with water bottles in the locker room.
“It’s a great feeling when they are happy for you,” he said. “I really appreciate the gesture. … I think we are trusting to each other and today was great shooting. We need nights like that. We were waiting for that.”
Washington has won three of its past four games, including an impressive road victory Jan. 6 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Wizards continue a lengthy homestand Sunday against the Eastern Conference-leading Toronto Raptors (32-12), which currently has the league’s longest winning streak at four games.