This was the up again, the counter to Tuesday night’s mess and one of the better nights of the early season.
The Wizards put out signs that they are who they say are — one of the challengers in the Eastern Conference — by handling a young Los Angeles Lakers team with more force and effectiveness than they did during an overtime loss Oct. 25 in Los Angeles, putting together a 111-95 win. The Lakers never led by more than three points. Washington built a 21-point lead, at one point. Otto Porter (20 points, 11 rebounds in 39 minutes), John Wall (23, eight rebounds, five assists) and Bradley Beal (22 points, five rebounds, five assists) carried the water, per usual.