Here is what you need to know prior to the Lakers’ tilt with the Washington Wizards.
1)
Nick Young (ankle) will miss Tuesday’s game after playing in every one since missing L.A.’s first 10 contests due to a torn ligament in his right thumb. Young, who is third in the league in free throw percentage (92.2), played just eight minutes against Houston Sunday per head coach Byron Scott’s decision. Despite being held scoreless for the first time in a Lakers uniform, Young was enjoying success prior to Sunday, as he averaged 18.3 points on 44.2 percent shooting in the four games prior.
2)
The Lakers’ key to pulling out wins this season has been to take care of the ball. L.A. is just 2-18 when committing more turnovers than its opponent, which it has done six times in its current eight-game losing streak. Prior to this slide, the Lakers were turning the ball over just 12.1 times per game, but they are doing so 15.4 times during this span.
3)
The Lakers have lost four straight against Washington by an average score of 112-103. John Wall has torched L.A. during this streak, averaging 25.0 points and 13.5 assists, while shooting 47.4 percent and picking up three double-doubles.
4)
Wall — who was named an Eastern Conference All-Star starter last week — has been, by most accounts, the league’s best passer this season. He not only leads the NBA in assists (10.2), but also in points created by assist (23.7), assisted layups (2.5) and free throw assists (1.1). Wall also ranks among the league’s top three in assist opportunities (19.0), assisted jump shots (6.2), secondary assists (2.0), assisted 3-pointers (2.8) and assisted dunks (1.4). Outside of his passing, Wall has continued to impress, as he leads Washington in scoring (17.2), and his 2.0 steals per game is second in the league behind Stephen Curry (2.1).
5)
Bradley Beal has improved his long-range shooting over each of his three seasons and is now tied with J.J. Redick for sixth in the NBA in 3-point percentage (44.1). However, Beal’s shot has been off in his last four games, as he has gone just 4-for-17 (29.4 percent) from deep.
6)
In his 12th season, Rasual Butler has become one of the league’s top 3-point threats, leading all non-guards and ranking fourth overall in 3-point percentage (45.3). However, like Beal, Butler has fallen into a bit of a slump, shooting just 25.0 percent (5-for-20) on 3’s in his last eight games. Washington has struggled from deep as a whole lately, hitting just 30.5 percent from beyond the arc in its last six games with an average clip of 5-for-18.
7)
Paul Pierce sits just 30 points behind Alex English for 15th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. The former Celtic has scored at least 30 points eight times in 29 games against the Lakers. However, the 37-year-old Pierce, who also hit his 2,000th career 3-pointer on Sunday, has recorded only one 30-point game since December 2012.
8)
The Wizards have been the NBA’s best team at defending the paint, allowing a league-best 38.5 points in that area. The Lakers got a firsthand taste of this on Dec. 3, when Washington held them to a season-low 20 paint points. L.A. shot just 10-for-22 in the paint, while the Wizards went 28-for-44 for 56 points en route to a 111-95 win.
9)
Washington has shot 47.5 percent from the field this season, which ties the Clippers for the league’s second-best mark. Moreover, the Wizards are outshooting their opponents by 3.8 percent this season, which also ranks second in the league. This efficient scoring has translated into wins, as Washington is 14-0 when shooting at least 50 percent and 27-3 when outshooting its opponent.
Wizards Shot Chart
10)
The Wizards have been nigh-unbeatable when holding their opponent below the century mark. Washington is 24-1 when limiting its opponent to 100 points or fewer.