Wizards host Lakers in home-away mismatch

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Wizards have the longest active home-court winning streak in the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers have the fewest road wins in the Western Conference.

On paper, that adds up to a big mismatch Thursday.

The Wizards (28-20) concluded a second straight impressive month with a 117-101 rout over the New York Knicks on Tuesday behind 28 points from Bradley Beal. Six players scored in double figures and three recorded double-doubles, including All-Star guard John Wall, while holding New York to 37 percent shooting.

Since Dec. 1, the Wizards are an Eastern Conference-best 22-9 -- including 12 wins in their last 14 games. Washington, 12-4 in January, matched the Golden State Warriors for the most wins in the month. No wonder their collective confidence is, according to Beal, even higher than recent versions that had playoff success.

"I think the joy that we have, the fun that we have is amazing," Beal said. "It's positive in there and we want nothing but the best for one another. There is great camaraderie, and we just take it all on the floor."

Washington, third in the NBA in field goal percentage, rarely has a bad night offensively with Wall running the attack and finding shooters all over the court. Otto Porter leads the league in 3-point accuracy at 46.2 percent. Big man Marcin Gortat, shooting 60 percent, made all seven of his shots against New York and has hit 36 of 45 over the last six games.

Now the defense isn't starting to keep pace with the offense.

"We weren't on the same page," Wall said of Washington's guarding woes earlier in the season. "We weren't helping each other and listening to the coaches we have. ... It was just about 'Can you stop people multiple times?' And I think we figured out ways to do that."

Los Angeles (17-34) did win in Washington last season. The Lakers also lost 10 of 15 in January, though a 120-116 win at Denver on Tuesday helped them close the month in style.

D'Angelo Russell tallied 22 points and a career-high 10 assists in a 120-116 win over the Nuggets.

"He was our leader on the court, and he was making all the right plays," 19-year-old rookie center Ivica Zubac said. "He needs to play like that, and I think he can do it every night."

Nick Young, who started his career with the Wizards, scored 23 with five 3-pointers. Zubac added a career-high 17 points.

"Guys were making shots left and right, we were getting stops and it just made it easier for me," said Russell, who missed the previous three games with a mild MCL sprain in his right knee and a strained right calf.

The Lakers have shown the ability to score, but they have struggled stopping the opposition. Los Angeles, just 5-21 on the road, ranks 27th in scoring defense at 110.2 points per game.

Starting forward Julius Randle missed the last two games with pneumonia.