Wiz of Awes
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Washington Wizards Three Takeaways: Washington Wizards down the Bucks behind Beal’s historic night

By Donnell Coley

Milwaukee, WI - JANUARY 8: John Wall #2 and Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards celebrate a win after a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 8, 2017 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
Milwaukee, WI - JANUARY 8: John Wall #2 and Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards celebrate a win after a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 8, 2017 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Milwaukee, WI – JANUARY 8: John Wall #2 and Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards celebrate a win after a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 8, 2017 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
Milwaukee, WI – JANUARY 8: John Wall #2 and Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards celebrate a win after a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 8, 2017 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Washington Wizards improved their record to 10-7 after beating the Milwaukee Bucks 99-88 on Monday. The Wizards had six players reach double-digits.

Washington Wizards guard John Wall who has been dealing with knee soreness, didn’t play in the team’s loss to the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. Bradley Beal has stepped up offensively in the wake of Wall’s slow start and did so again on Monday night. He scored a team-high 23 points, as the Wizards beat the Milwaukee Bucks 99-88.

All of Washington’s starters scored double-digit figures. Wall (15 points, 6 assists). Both Otto Porter Jr. (12 points, 11 rebounds) and Marcin Gortat (10 points, 12 rebounds) finished with double-doubles. Gortat now leads the team with six double-doubles this year. Kelly Oubre Jr. scored a huge 18 points off the bench.

Here are the three takeaways.

The Panda Express

Though he only hit two on the night, Bradley Beal became the youngest player in NBA history to knock down 700 threes. Coach Scott Brooks praised Beal for his milestone-setting performance, while taking time to encourage more aggressiveness.

“He keeps improving. I tell him he should be shooting 9-10 threes per game.” Brooks told NBC Sports Washington after the game.

Beal said, that he was “happy” about the milestone and it was one he would “definitely embrace.”

He leads the team in scoring this year and, much like Monday night, he’s been a steadying offensive force. Beal shot an efficient 10-of-16 from the floor and dished out five assists.

Defensively, Beal helped lead a strong defensive effort.

He even took a page out of Wall’s book and had the highlight of the night with an insane chasedown block.

DEFENDING THE FREAK

Washington made it hard for Milwaukee to get deep in the paint, and stifled them when they managed to do so. The home team shot just 44 percent from the floor, including a horrendous 18 percent from deep.

The foremost tactic to Brooks’ defensive game plan against the Bucks was grounding the rising superstar Giannis Antetekounmpo. He ranked second in the league in scoring (30.1ppg), but was held to just 23 points on 8-of-21 shooting.

After the game, Wall told reporters, that a huge part of their success against the “Greek Freak” was throwing as many bodies at him as they could.

Whether it was Porter, Oubre, Morris, Beal or Wall himself, the Wizards were determined to give Antetekounmpo their undivided attention. They employed a similar strategy that teams tried against a young LeBron James: packing the paint with as many players as possible.

Antetekounmpo looked frustrated for most of the evening and could never get into a rhythm.

Washington will have this tape to remind them of their potential as a shutdown defensive unit.

Bench Steps up in the Fourth

Washington’s bench has been scrutinized the entire season for their inconsistent play. There’s good Wiz bench, like earlier this season when they closed out the Atlanta Hawks with a 23-10 run to start the fourth quarter and bad Wiz bench.

Good Wiz bench re-emerged against the Bucks. Behind Oubre’s 10 fourth-quarter points, the reserves were responsible for the first 18 Wizards points in the quarter.

Jodie Meeks spelled Beal and scored six points in the quarter with creative drives to the bucket, hitting floaters and off-balanced shots.

Brooks praised the bench who he said, “trusted the pass” and displayed great offensive flow.

The group inherited a 73-66 lead to begin the final quarter. They stretched that lead to 77-67 with 10 minutes left, kept the momentum for the starters, who came in and secured the win.

Washington looks to go 2-1 on their three-game road trip when they face the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.

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