Traditionally in the NBA, players who have missed the All-Star Game are rarely named to the league’s All-NBA team at the end of the season. The latter is thought to be more prestigious, generally made up of the 15 best players that season — regardless of conference.
Bradley Beal, however, is making a strong case for the honor.
Beal scored 39 points in Washington’s 122-115 win Tuesday over the New York Knicks, helping erase a large double-digit deficit in the second half. The Wizards trailed by as many as 18, but Beal led a Wizards surge by attacking the basket, drawing fouls and shooting 40% from deep. He had 20 points in the third alone.
Beal’s response came one game after a down performance for the two-time All-Star. During Sunday’s loss against the Miami Heat, Beal went just 1-for-14 in the second half.
Against the Knicks, Beal did what he’s done since the All-Star break: Score from practically anywhere on the floor.
“He’s a top 10 player in the league,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said before the game. “(Beal) proves it time and time again. …He still keeps us relevant, he keeps us competitive.”
So often this season, Beal has had to carry the Wizards (24-40). He did it again Tuesday, scrambling around screens and driving downhill to create contact. The constant movement, he said, he can get tiring. Beal even sprawled out on the ground for several seconds after contact put him on the floor on more than one occasion.
Some of it, though, was just for show, Beal said.
“I definitely got to show off my acting skills,” Beal said. “I’m trying to look for some roles this summer. Any movies and shows, you guys hit me. But no, I’m exhausted sometimes. I’m just trying to catch a break.”
The Wizards didn’t have much time to rest in the second half. After all, they were determined to erase a 70-54 halftime deficit, which especially bothered the Wizards given they opened the game on an 18-4 run.
Beal, too, wasn’t the only Wizard to bounce back.
After a two-game slump, Rui Hachimura finished with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting. Brooks said the rookie had one of his best games defensively. The Wizards, too, looked to get Hachimura involved early on as the Japanese native opened the night with a dunk 15 seconds in.
Elsewhere, center Thomas Bryant, who had two points and fouled out against the Heat, scored 15 points and his energy also helped the Wizards rally in the third. Point guard Shabazz Napier made clutch plays defensively during the surge and finished with 21 points.
But the comeback was fueled by Beal. In the third, he drained back-to-back 3-pointers to chip away at the Knicks’ lead. He finally tied it when he sank another shot from deep near the end of the quarter.
“He was all over the floor,” Knicks coach Mike Miller said. “He would come off of this first option and not have it and change sides of the floor and come off a different action. They were effective with that.”
That shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has watched the Wizards this year. Since the All-Star break, Beal is now averaging 36.5 points per game on 45% shooting.
If he continues his pace, NBA voters will likely have to seriously consider Beal for All-NBA. There’s no guarantee he makes it: The Wizards are still well below .500 and there are a plethora of talented guards in the league.
The last guard to miss the All-Star Game, but make All-NBA was Portland’s Damian Lillard in 2015-16. Former Suns guard Goran Dragic also did it in 2013-14.
But the feat would be rare.
“That would be weird,” Beal said, taking a few seconds to answer the question. “… Oh, man. I don’t know. I didn’t really think about it, but I hope I do. It would be an amazing achievement, but ultimately, I want to make the playoffs.”
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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