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NEW ORLEANS -- Monty Williams was hoping a return to the Crescent City after an arduous, five-game road trip would energize his weary Pelicans. But it was the visiting Washington Wizards who played with more intensity, holding off a furious late rally in a 102-96 victory Wednesday night. Trevor Ariza scored 21 points and John Wall added 20 to lead Washington, which is suddenly finding the road more inviting. The victory was the second road win in as many nights for the Wizards, who have now won six of seven away from home. "There was a stretch in the first half where we had five stops in a row and scored on all five which created the lead for us," Washington coach Randy Wittman said. "We were a little sloppy down the stretch but it was a real solid effort." Bradley Beal added 17 points, Jan Vesely 12 and Marcin Gortat and Nene 11 each for the Wizards. Beal made three of his first four 3-point attempts and added four assists. Vesely was 6 of 8 from the field and grabbed seven rebounds, a game-high five on the offensive end, which led Washingtons 13 second-chance points. Gortat added 14 rebounds and former Pelican Ariza 10 to lead Washington to a 46-37 advantage on the boards. "(Vesely) is definitely our most athletic big, and he brings a lot of energy," Beal said. "Whenever hes playing the way hes capable of playing, were a great team." Eric Gordon scored 23 points and Anthony Davis 21 for the Pelicans, who were coming off of a four-game road trip that saw New Orleans endure a two-day delay in Indianapolis because of the severe winter storms that paralyzed air traffic earlier this week. "We just did not compete in the second quarter, not to the level that they were competing," Williams said of a period when the Pelicans were outscored 33-16 to fall behind 61-44. "Theres no excuse for that. Weve got young guys." Brian Roberts scored 11 points, all in the second half, and Greg Stiemsma 10 for New Orleans, which trailed by as many as 23 in the third quarter. "Our energy was down," Pelicans guard Austin Rivers said. "I didnt think we were focused. We are picking up bad habits. When we get down six or seven, we act like the game is over and the lead gets worse. Thats not coaching. Thats on us. "Its discipline and pride. Weve got to have a little something inside you." The Pelicans trailed 87-66 to begin the fourth quarter, but opened with a 14-4 run to trim the deficit to 91-80 midway through the period. The Wizards committed turnovers on three consecutive possessions during one sloppy stretch and scored only two points during another five-minute span. New Orleans got within 93-87 with 2:56 remaining, but could come no closer. "The biggest deal to me was that the level of competing was different (in the fourth quarter)," Williams said. "We did not make any adjustments. We did what we were supposed to do and we had a 30 to 15 quarter." With the exception of an early two-minute window, Washington dominated the first half, playing energized on the defensive end and controlling the interior. The Wizards made their first five field-goal attempts in racing to an 11-6 lead. But just as quickly, the shots quit falling and New Orleans took advantage, outscoring the Wizards 14-1 in a little more than two minutes to take a 20-12 lead with 4:21 left in the quarter. The Pelicans defence effectively sealed off the middle during the run, forcing Washington to settle for looks from the perimeter. However, New Orleans spurt proved to be an early tease for the fans. The Wizards closed the quarter on a 16-8 run to tie the score at 28 and opened the second on a 12-0 run. Martell Websters 3-pointer gave the Wizards a 40-28 with 7:55 remaining in the quarter. During that stretch, the Pelicans missed four shots and committed two turnovers. Washington closed the half on a 21-16 run to take a 61-44 lead. "We were a little bit tired," Pelicans centre Alexis Ajinca said. "Sometimes its in the head, sometimes its in the legs. Tonight. it was a little bit of both." NOTES: The 61 points given up by the Pelicans tied a season high for points allowed in the first half. New Orleans also gave up 61 in the first half Jan. 1 at Minnesota, which resulted in a 124-112 loss. ... Davis made a 3-pointer with less than one minute remaining, the first of his career. ... The Pelicans lost their third consecutive game to an Eastern Conference opponent. Cheap Jerseys . De La Rosa pitched six strong innings to win his sixth consecutive decision, Todd Helton homered and the Colorado Rockies snapped the Los Angeles Dodgers six-game winning streak with a 7-5 victory on Wednesday night. Cheap Jerseys From China . Nothing pretty. But this is 1/4 World Cup. Usually plays out this way. https://www.fakejerseysfromchina.com/ . The third baseman whipped the ball across the diamond to second baseman Aaron Hill. He quickly tossed it to shortstop Chris Owings, who flipped over his shoulder to left fielder Cody Ross. Fake Jerseys For Sale . Ricciardos exclusion from the results tarnished what had been a day of celebration for local fans, who were jubilant that the Red Bull driver had apparently become the first Australian to finish on the podium at his home race. However just before midnight, stewards ruled that Ricciardos car had "exceeded consistently the maximum allowed fuel flow" and that the team refused an instruction from the races technical delegate Charlie Whiting to change the fuel-flow sensor before the race and a further request during the race to reduce the fuel flow. Fake Jerseys China . Instead, Nonis and Kessel were sorting through the fallout of a wild melee with the Buffalo Sabres, one that saw Kessel suspended for the duration of the pre-season.In a stunning turn of events, the best basketball player on the planet has changed teams through free agency. Numbers Game breaks down the biggest move of the NBA summer, one of the most remarkable free agent moves in NBA history. The Cavaliers Get: SF LeBron James. James, 29, has been the best player in basketball over the past decade. In 11 NBA seasons, hes averaging 27.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game. In the history of the NBA, there are three other players that have averaged at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists per game and the list is spectacular: Michael Jordan, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson. If LeBron is not at the peak of his powers, hes awfully close. Hes shot 56.6% from the field over the past two seasons and last seasons True Shooting Percentage (combining twos, threes and free throws) of 64.9% was the best of his career. As James has improved his jump shot, hes become ever more dangerous offensively because, in the open floor, hes still a finisher without peer, moving a 6-foot-8, 260-pound frame with unmatched athleticism and control. Part of the reason that James has been the best in the league is that he has a toolbox that others cant compete with. No one else that size can move like LeBron. Thats not to diminish his game, because its more than merely bulling his way to the basket. Hes as unselfish with the ball as any NBA superstar, can play effectively anywhere on the floor when needed and has expanded his offensive repertoire, adding more post-ups in recent years. Undoubtedly, LeBron is great. An all-timer. But there have been signs of age catching up to him, if ever-so-slightly. Hes been extremely durable throughout his career, never missing more than seven games in a season, but his back acted up at times last season and thats worth keeping an eye on, lest we be fooled into believing that hes superhuman. Returning to Cleveland, James is going to invigorate a franchise that has been a rudderless mess since he left in 2010. As the roster is currently constructed, PG Kyrie Irving, SG Dion Waiters, PF Tristan Thompson and C Anderson Varejao could easily surround James in the starting lineup. But, the Cavs may try to move Waiters, hoping to keep first overall pick Andrew Wiggins, in an attempt to land PF Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Even if Wiggins has to be moved to get that deal done, the Cavs would have an excellent starting five. One of the facets that James brings to a team is that he makes any team instantly desirable as a destination. Players that want to win recognize the opportunity to do that with LeBron, who won two titles and lost two NBA Finals in four seasons wwith the Miami Heat.dddddddddddd Adding someone like Love to a team that has James and an up-and-coming point guard like Irving is enough to be the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. For a team that won 33 games last season, its a dramatic upturn in their fortunes. But, worry about Love when Love joins the Cavs. James arrival makes the Cavaliers a playoff team and they have the young assets, gained through top draft picks, to either surround James with a capable supporting cast or to move some of those pieces in order to accelerate the plans. Its a difficult weight to bear, as the player deemed to be the best on the planet. LeBron enjoyed his time and success in Miami, but there may have been something pushing him in that direction, away from Cleveland in the first place, to chase championship rings because, like every other challenger to the throne, he sees Michael Jordans six championship rings and knows thats the benchmark in the modern era. Maybe LeBron will get to six championship rings someday. Depending on how the Cavaliers roster shakes out, its certainly feasible that they will be contenders every year that James is there. But, when it comes to an enduring legacy, maybe it means more to an Akron, Ohio kid to win one for Cleveland, where there hasnt been a championship in forever (the Browns last won the NFL title in 1964) and maybe LeBron, having been there and done that, feels like he can lead a Cleveland team to a title. Whatever the reason, and LeBron was much more eloquent and self-aware in expressing this decision, the balance of power has changed in the NBA. For the first time since 2009-2010, the Cavs will be good again and, depending on who joins LeBron, they could be great, just like that. Conversely, the Miami Heat are going to be starting over. With LeBron leaving, Chris Bosh is reportedly on his way to Houston, leaving a 32-year-old Dwyane Wade to pick up the pieces. Wade opted out of his contract, too, so he could always move on, but the opportunity to get paid is going to rest with the Heat, who currently have two players under contract for next season. Lots of work to do and it wont be easy. South Beach might be a great lure, but pulling together a roster, virtually from scratch, will be a challenge. When the best player in the sport willingly makes a move to another team, it can send shockwaves through the sports world. This one will have ripple effects, to be felt throughout the summer, as the new NBA landscape is dictated by LeBrons decision to go home. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. ' ' '