Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Trevor Ariza scored 24 points, John Wall had 16 points and 13 assists, and the Washington Wizards beat the Orlando Magic 98-80 on Monday night.
Nene scored 14 points and Marcin Gortat finished with 13 as Washington (9-9) got to .500 for the first time since it split its first four games of the 2009-10 season.
With top scorer Bradley Beal out of the lineup for the fifth straight game, Ariza supplied the offense. He was 8 for 9 from the field and made each of his four 3-point attempts, three off passes from Wall.
The Wizards have won seven of nine and are 4-1 since Beal went out with a leg injury.
Arron Afflalo scored 21 points for Orlando, and Victor Oladipo added 13 points and six rebounds in a special game for the rookie. Oladipo was born in nearby Silver Spring, Md., and raised in Upper Marlboro, Md.
Rookie Maurice Harkless had a career-high 16 points, but the Magic still lost for the ninth time in 12 games.
Washington outscored Orlando 30-19 in the second quarter to take a 52-41 lead at the break.
The Magic scored six straight points to pull to 62-55 in the second half, but the Wizards responded with a 9-0 run. Gortat keyed the surge with a pair of jumpers and Wall had a big jumper and a 3-pointer.
Washington stretched its lead to as many as 19 points in the fourth quarter.
Ariza helped the Wizards get off to a fast start, making two 3-pointers and a fast-break dunk during Washington's game-opening 15-2 run. The surge by the Wizards set the stage for a see-saw first half.
Oladipo steadied Orlando with seven quick points. Then, with Wall on the bench, Afflalo scored the final eight points of a 10-0 run that bridged the quarters and gave Orlando a 24-22 early in the second quarter.
The Magic stretched their advantage to five points. But Wall helped the Wizards get back on track offensively and regain the lead for good.
Ariza, Nene and Wall combined for all the points as Washington scored 24 in the final 6:07 of the half. When Wall hit an off-balance 3-pointer at the buzzer, the Wizards had an 11-point lead.
NOTES: Washington outrebounded Orlando 42-40. ... The Magic were 3 for 15 from 3-point range, compared to 9 for 13 for the Wizards.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
