Suns' Bradley Beal lights up former team in win over Wizards

Bradley Beal scored a season-high 43 points in his return to Washington and the Phoenix Suns cruised past the Wizards 140-112 on Sunday.

Beal, who spent his first 11 seasons in Washington before an offseason trade to Phoenix, scored 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting as the Suns raced to a 79-58 halftime lead. He finished 16 of 21 from the field, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range in 31 minutes.

Jusuf Nurkic had 18 points and 13 rebounds, and Kevin Durant scored 18 points for the Suns, who finished 4-3 on their seven-game road trip. Phoenix shot 61.4 percent (54 of 88) from the field, including 11 of 25 from long distance.

Deni Avdija matched a season high with 24 points for the Wizards, who fell to 2-3 under interim coach Brian Keefe. Eugene Omoruyi had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Daniel Gafford and Corey Kispert had 15 points each. Washington shot 49 percent (47 for 96) from the field, but made only 7 of 32 from beyond the arc.

Beal scored seven quick points early in the third quarter to increase the Phoenix lead to 86-62. Beal's step-back trey — followed by a technical foul shot — as the third quarter expired, pushed the lead to 116-86.

Four of the five Suns starters reached double figures before halftime, and Phoenix shot 69 percent (29 of 42) from the field.

Nurkic's floater gave the Suns an 11-2 lead just two minutes in. Beal's step-back 3-pointer made it 26-13 midway through the first quarter, and Devin Booker's two free throws increased the lead to 39-23 at the 2:03 mark.

The Wizards rallied in the second quarter and Kispert's two free throws pulled Washington within 45-39 with 10:21 remaining in the half. Beal responded with six straight points to start an 8-0 run and the Suns soon led 55-41.

Tyus Jones pulled the Wizards with 63-52 with 5:22 left, but Phoenix outscored Washington 16-6 over the remainder of the half.

—Field Level Media