The Washington Wizards (39 - 28) defeated the Portland Trail Blazers (44 - 21) 105 - 97 on Monday at the Verizon Center in Washington. This marked another big win for the Wizards, who have turned their struggles around and have now won four games in a row. They currently sit as the fifth projected playoff seed in the Eastern Conference standings, just a half game behind the Chicago Bulls and four and a half games ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks. The loss for the Trail Blazers ends their winning streak at three games. They're currently positioned in the third projected playoff seed in the Western Conference standings, but the loss brings the Rockets to within a half game of the Trail Blazers and pushes the Grizzlies to a two - game lead over the Trail Blazers for that number two spot. The Wizards shot well in this game, going 50 percent from the field and 58 percent from the three - point line, while having all five starters in double figures for points. The backcourt duo of Bradley Beal and John Wall led the way. Beal recorded a team - high of 23 points (8 - 13 FG, 4 - 4 3Pt, 3 - 6 FT), to go along with seven assists, while Wall finished with 21 points (10 - 23 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt, 1 - 2 FT), nine rebounds and 11 assists, coming just shy of a triple - double. Beal had shot under 40 percent in each of his two previous games, so he was much more successful with his shot Monday, including hitting on all of his three - point attempts. Wall, on the other hand, has posted two double - doubles in a row, combining for 52 points and 23 assists over that span. After missing the two previous games for personal issues, Nene Hilario returned to score 12 points (5 - 13 FG, 2 - 4 FT), while also adding seven rebounds. Both Paul Pierce and Marcin Gortat chipped in with 16 points apiece. The Trail Blazers saw most of their production from LaMarcus Aldridge, who notched a double - double with 24 points (10 - 19 FG, 0 - 1 3Pt, 4 - 6 FT) and 12 rebounds. It was his second double - double in a row, after posting 24 points and 10 rebounds against the Raptors Sunday. Arron Afflalo found his shot Monday, going 5 - for - 9 from the field and 2 - for - 5 from the three - point line to score 15 points. He's started to pick his game up of late, averaging 15 points over his last three games. Also finishing with a double - double was Nicolas Batum, who added 12 points (4 - 12 FG, 2 - 6 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) and 15 rebounds. The 15 rebounds were a new season - high for the forward. Damian Lillard chipped in with 14 points (5 - 18 FG, 2 - 8 3Pt, 2 - 2 FT) and nine assists as well. The Wizards' next game will be on the road against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, while the Trail Blazers' will travel to Miami to play the Heat on Wednesday.
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 "PlayerStat(G,'LaMarcus Aldridge') has 3 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 0 3-pointers attempted ,has 19 3-pointers made ,has 10 Field goals attempted ,has 6 Field goals made ,has 4 Free throws attempted ,has 24 Free throws made ,has 12 Offensive rebounds ."
 "PlayerStat(G,'Arron Afflalo') has 5 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 9 3-pointers attempted ,has 5 3-pointers made ,has 3 Field goals attempted ,has 3 Field goals made ,has 15 Free throws attempted ."
 "PlayerStat(G,'Damian Lillard') has 9 Assists ,has 8 Blocks ,has 2 3-pointers attempted ,has 18 3-pointers made ,has 5 Field goals attempted ,has 2 Field goals made ,has 2 Free throws attempted ,has 14 Free throws made ."
 "PlayerStat(G,'Paul Pierce') has 16 Assists ."
 "PlayerStat(G,'Nene') has 2 Assists ,has 13 Blocks ,has 5 3-pointers attempted ,has 4 3-pointers made ,has 2 Field goals attempted ,has 2 Field goals made ,has 12 Free throws attempted ,has 7 Free throws made ,has 2 Offensive rebounds ."
 "PlayerStat(G,'Marcin Gortat') has 16 Assists ."
 "PlayerStat(G,'Bradley Beal') has 7 Assists ,has 4 Blocks ,has 4 3-pointers attempted ,has 13 3-pointers made ,has 8 Field goals attempted ,has 6 Field goals made ,has 3 Free throws attempted ,has 2 Free throws made ,has 23 Offensive rebounds ."
 "PlayerStat(G,'John Wall') has 11 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 1 3-pointers attempted ,has 0 3-pointers made ,has 23 Field goals attempted ,has 10 Field goals made ,has 2 Free throws attempted ,has 1 Free throws made ,has 21 Offensive rebounds ,has 9 Personal fouls ,has 2 Points ,has 2 Total rebounds ."]