John Wall gets triple-double, Wizards slow down Anthony Davis in rout

The Washington Wizards have played tough defense since the All-Star break. They answered another big challenge on Tuesday night.

John Wall had 16 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, helping the Wizards to a 109-89 win over fellow former University of Kentucky star Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans.

Marcin Gortat had 21 points and 11 rebounds for Washington, which pulled away in the second half of its season-high fourth straight home win. Jared Dudley scored 18 points on six three-pointers and helped hold Davis in check after he had a monster game at Detroit.

“Tonight we kept giving him different looks, never let him feel comfortable, and anytime I could put pressure on him I did,” Dudley said.

The Wizards have won three of four since the break, holding their opponent under 90 points in each victory.

Wall was 5-for-17 from the field in his second triple-double of the season and fifth of his career. He also had two steals in 31 1/2 minutes.

“I played like [crap],” Wall said. “I couldn’t make a shot until the end. But that’s what I always say. I’m not a player that just relies on scoring. If I’m having an off night, I’m still going to take the open looks I have, but my job is to get guys open shots.”

Davis grabbed 20 more rebounds, but was held to just nine points on 3-for-9 shooting. The All-Star forward had 59 points and 20 rebounds in a 111-106 victory against the Pistons on Sunday.

“They had a guy playing behind him and in front of him the entire game,” Pelicans Coach Alvin Gentry said. “We had to have other guys step up and make shots, and we just didn’t shoot the ball very well.”

“J-Dud did a great job tonight,” Wizards guard Bradley Beal said. “He made him uncomfortable. He fronted him. Had active hands. Stayed attached with him in the pick and rolls. You could see everything. We went under, just so we can keep close to him, make him uncomfortable and make it difficult.”

It was the first time this season that Davis failed to score in double figures when he played at least 20 minutes.

“It’s tough,” he said. “You never get in a rhythm, sometimes you don’t touch the ball, but that’s why you have teammates — other guys gotta play off of that and try to make it work.”

“He’s a great player,” Dudley said of Davis, “but tonight we definitely executed the game plan.”

Jrue Holiday had 20 points and seven assists for New Orleans, which had won four of five to remain on the fringe of the Western Conference playoff hunt. Ryan Anderson scored 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting.

Leading 54-51, the Wizards opened the third quarter with a 14-0 run.

Dudley hit a three-pointer, fed Gortat for a layup and nailed another three from the wing on consecutive trips.

“I thought that third quarter, we just jumped right on it,” Wizards Coach Randy Wittman said. “Ball movement, defense, our guys, I’ve got to give them a lot of credit.”

Three possessions later, Dudley struck again for his sixth three. The crowd let out a collective groan when he missed from beyond the arc on the next trip, but Otto Porter rebounded and fed Wall, whose three-pointer from the top of the key made it 68-51.

“A couple ones I wish I could have had back,” Dudley said. “I got a little tired. I don’t think I’ve ever been tired shooting threes, but that might have been the first time.”

New Orleans was without starting center Omer Asik, who sprained his ankle against the Pistons.

HE COULD HAVE SCORED MORE

Gentry was asked before the game what he liked best about Davis’ 59-point effort on Sunday.

“He’s still too doggone unselfish, to be honest with you, sometimes,” a chuckling Gentry said. “I said ‘I’m going to have to tell you, these games don’t come along all the time, and you’ve got to take full advantage of them when they do.’ But that’s just who he is.”

FITTING IN

Markieff Morris played 21 1 / 2minutes and scored six points in his third game with the Wizards. Morris was acquired in a trade with Phoenix on Thursday.

“I thought he was really comfortable out there tonight,” Wittman said. “He even called some plays … so I thought it was another good step for him tonight.”

This story was originally published February 23, 2016 at 11:50 PM with the headline "John Wall gets triple-double, Wizards slow down Anthony Davis in rout."