Wizards

NBA scores: Wizards drop second close one to Celtics

The Washington Wizards pushed the Boston Celtics into overtime, their second consecutive close matchup with the Eastern Conference contenders, but they fell again, 100-94.

By Rodger Sherman Nov 8, 2012, 8:36am EST

The Washington Wizards have shown their ability to hang tight with the Boston Celtics, but still came away with a pair of losses from their home-and-home with the veteran squad.

Saturday night, the team rallied back from an early deficit to fall on a late Paul Pierce three, 89-86. Wednesday night, they once again battled back, tying the game and sending it to overtime after trailing by eight to start the fourth quarter, but Boston pulled away in the extra session for another close win, 100-94.

The Wizards are still winless on the young season, but the strong performances against a team expected to be one of the league's best have to be encouraging for a team expected to lose early, often, and by large margins without John Wall and Nene. The team doesn't have a star - nobody has scored more than 16 points in any of their first three games - but if they can hang with teams on the strength of rangy defense and a little bit of offensive production coming from guys like Jordan Crawford, Martell Webster, and rookie Bradley Beal, perhaps they can even win a few games before their best players come back.

Here's a look at Wednesday night's scores:

Washington Wizards, 100, Boston 94, OT

Atlanta Hawks, 89, Indiana Pacers, 86

Phoenix Suns, 117, Charlotte Bobcats, 110

Miami Heat, 103, Brooklyn Nets, 73

Minnesota Timberwolves, 90, Orlando Magic, 75

Memphis Grizzlies, 108, Milwaukee Bucks, 80

Philadelphia 76ers, 77, New Orleans Hornets, 62

Denver Nuggets, 93, Houston Rockets, 87

Dallas Mavericks, 109, Toronto Raptors, 104

Utah Jazz, 95, Los Angeles Lakers, 86

Sacramento Kings, 105, Detroit Pistons, 103