Suns allow career night to Wizards’ Bradley Beal in loss

WASHINGTON (AP) — Scott Brooks is still getting to know Bradley Beal and the rest of the Washington Wizards. The team’s new coach likes what he sees out of his shooting guard.

In the last two games, Beal has scored 76 points — and 30 or more in consecutive games for the first time in his five-year career.

Beal had a career-high 42 points and John Wall shook off an awful shooting night with seven key points down the stretch as the Wizards beat the Phoenix Suns 106-101 on Monday night.

Beal, who scored 34 points in Saturday’s loss to Miami, had nine in the first quarter, seven in the second, 12 in the third and 14 in the fourth. He shot 14 for 22 and hit five of his 10 3-point attempts.

“He can be one of the best two-way players in the league, and my job is to continue to push him to strive for greatness,” Brooks said.

“It takes a lot of energy. It takes a lot of inner drive and determination, but I think he has the ability to be that player.”

Beal said he’s simplified his approach.

“Not thinking, not worrying about if I miss or if I make it. I just have the same mentality that it’s on to the next shot. That shot’s over,” Beal said.

Devin Booker had 30 points and Eric Bledsoe scored 29 for Phoenix (4-11), which has lost five of six. Booker and Bledsoe scored 18 of the team’s 21 points in the fourth quarter.

The Wizards improved to 4-10. All four of their wins have come at home.

BEST FOR LAST

Wall, who also scored 34 points on Saturday, finished with 18 this time. He shot just 6 for 24 but converted a three-point play with 1:08 remaining to give Washington a 102-101 lead. Wall added a jumper with 38.1 seconds to go and two free throws with 21.2 seconds left.

“I think I just impacted the game other ways,” he said.

Wall had a season-high 15 assists and added three blocked shots.

ON GUARD

The Suns were impressed with Beal’s performance.

“I didn’t defend him, so I don’t know what was so tough, but he played really determined tonight,” coach Earl Watson said.

Beal and Wall combined to score 23 of the Wizards’ 31 fourth-quarter points.

“You need to shut them down, make somebody else do it, and we didn’t do that today,” Booker said.

TIP-INS

Suns: F T.J. Warren (illness) missed his second straight game. C Tyson Chandler (personal reasons) sat out for the third consecutive game. . G Leandro Barbosa became the 11th player in franchise history to appear in 500 games.

Wizards: Recalled F Danuel House Jr. from Delaware of the D-League. . Coach Scott Brooks said C Ian Mahinmi, who has yet to play this season due to knee surgery, is progressing well. Brooks wasn’t sure, however, when Mahinmi will be ready to play. “I like what he did yesterday in practice. He really moved very well. Obviously, he’s a little rusty and conditioning is going to be a factor early on,” Brooks said.

UP NEXT

Suns: Visit Orlando on Wednesday.

Wizards: Visit Orlando on Friday.