Former Bucks Dudley, Sessions lead Washington past Milwaukee
WASHINGTON -- With guard Bradley Beal back from injury and a defense causing havoc Wednesday night, the Washington Wizards got a much-needed victory at home.
John Wall scored 19 points, Beal added 11 to join seven players in double figures, and Washington held on for a 106-101 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Ramon Sessions added 15 points and Jared Dudley had 13 for Washington. The Wizards scored 36 points off a season-high 27 forced turnovers, including 12 in the fourth quarter.
"When we get our hands on the ball, that's when we're the best," Dudley said. "Because we get out in transition."
The Wizards won their third straight and snapped a three-game home skid.
Beal came off the bench and played 23 minutes in his first game since Dec. 9. He missed 16 games with a stress reaction in his lower right leg, but insisted he was "100 percent" recovered just before the midway point of Washington's season.
"I just took my time with this injury," said Beal, who missed eight games with a similar injury last season. "I definitely wanted to make sure I was 100 percent before I got back out here."
Khris Middleton scored 25 points, and Greg Monroe added 21 points and 12 rebounds for Milwaukee, which lost its fourth game out of six.
Giannis Antetokounmpo added 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Bucks. He scored 13 in a third quarter that ended with Milwaukee leading 74-71 after trailing by 19 before halftime.
But the Bucks gave the ball away six times before scoring their next points, helping Washington start the fourth quarter on a 22-6 run.
"The first play of the fourth quarter was a turnover," interim coach Joe Prunty said. "That's obviously not the tone we want to set when you come out (after) taking the lead."
Sessions' dunk off Nene's outlet feed gave the Wizards a 75-74 lead. Later, Wall kicked out to Sessions for an open 3-pointer before driving the lane and flushing home a strong, left-handed dunk that made it 93-80 with 5:29 left.
Dudley hit a pair of late 3s to help fend off one last comeback. Milwaukee got within three in the final moments only to see Beal hit a pair of free throws with 1.6 seconds to play.
"The win felt good, body felt good, so hopefully we continue to ramp it up," Beal said.
NIGHT AND DAY
Milwaukee's 27 turnovers were a season high, one night after the Bucks set a season low with five giveaways in a 106-101 victory over the Chicago Bulls. Milwaukee was looking to sweep its first back-to-back games since Nov. 6-7.
"Way too much," Monroe said. "Even with the 27 turnovers, we were in the game. If we take care of the ball, we probably give ourselves a better chance to win."
TIP-INS
Bucks: G O.J. Mayo exited in the second quarter with a sore left hamstring. ... G Jerryd Bayless (ankle) remained out with no certain timetable for return, Prunty said. Bayless hasn't played since Jan. 4.
Wizards: F Otto Porter left the game in third quarter with a sore right hip. ... Wittman said it's not clear yet if Beal's injury will lead to a restriction on his minutes for the rest of the season or even beyond. "I think as he gets back in the flow of it, the doctors and him will make that decision," the coach said.
UP NEXT
Bucks: Home against Atlanta on Friday.
Wizards: At Indiana on Friday.
