Washington Wizards too strong for New Orleans Pelicans in NBA

Houston Rockets’ Dwight Howard (right) fouls Gordon Hayward of the Utah Jazz in their NBA game in Salt Lake City on Tuesday. The Jazz won 117-114. (Photo: AP)

The Washington Wizards weren’t about to grant New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis another sensational scoring night in the NBA on Tuesday.

Wizards guard John Wall notched his second triple-double of the season and Washington smothered Davis in a 109-89 triumph over the Pelicans.

In Davis’s first game since he dropped 59 points on the Detroit Pistons in a win on Sunday, he was held to just nine points on three-of-nine shooting.

“I just think they tried to double-team me, deny me the ball — a lot,” Davis said.

“They did a great job on him,” Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry added of the Wizards defense on Davis. “A guy gets 59, I guarantee you game-plan for him the next game.”

With Davis wrapped up, none of his teammates were able to step up. No Pelicans starter scored in double figures as New Orleans shot a season-low 34.9 percent.

Wall, meanwhile, finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists for the Wizards, who have won three of four games since the All-Star break.

Washington outscored the Pelicans 31-14 in the third quarter for an 85-65 lead, and led by 23 points in the fourth.

Wizards center Marcin Gortat had 21 points, and forward Jared Dudley sank six three-pointers for 18 points. The effort on the other end of the court fueled the victory.

“I think we came out and got some defensive stops, held them from scoring, and (Dudley) got hot,” Wall said.

Davis did pull down 20 rebounds for the second straight game. But the Wizards won the rebounding battle 55-48.

Davis wasn’t surprised by the extra defensive attention he received after his big game against the Pistons.

“That’s why we tried to prepare for it in practice yesterday and then shoot-around,” he said. “We worked on it, but we missed shots early, and they just stayed with their coverage,” he added.

The Utah Jazz withstood a 42-point performance from Houston guard James Harden to post a much-needed 117-114 overtime victory over the Rockets.

Gordon Hayward scored 28 points with seven rebounds and five assists and Derrick Favors added 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Jazz.