Bradley Beal scored 36 points and the weary Wizards, overcoming an overtime loss and early morning arrival in town, defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-112. The Wizards started slowly following a long flight after an OT defeat in Miami on Wednesday, but took over late in the first quarter and pulled away.
Beal was 15 of 22 from the field and had eight assists in 29 minutes. The Wizards guard scored 38 points against Miami and is 31 of 46 from the field in the last two games.
Cleveland has lost six in a row and 11 of 13. The Cavaliers were coming off a 20-point home loss to New York on Monday and struggled against the Wizards, who are also at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Kevin Love, who scored 21 points, believes the Cavaliers should be better as a group. Cleveland hasn’t won since a surprising victory at Denver on Jan. 11.
Collin Sexton scored 29 points for Cleveland. Larry Nance Jr. had 22.
The Cavaliers led 18-6 before the Wizards took control, thanks to Beal and Bertans, and built a 40-26 lead. The offense didn’t slow down after halftime. Beal had 11 points in the third quarter and the Wizards opened a 98-78 cushion.