Bradley Beal scored 50 points, but the Washington Wizards guard sat out the end of regulation and overtime with a left hamstring strain as Washington outlasted Indiana 133-132 Saturday to overtake the Pacers for the No. 9 spot in the Eastern Conference.
Beal said he tweaked the hamstring in the second half and that it intensified in the last minute and a half of the fourth quarter. He also tweaked an ankle. Wizards coach Scott Brooks said he was uncertain how serious Beal's hamstring injury is and that the guard's status will have to be determined over the next few days before Washington plays at Atlanta on Monday.
"I knew it was a little tight in the second half," said Beal, who checked out of the game with 21 seconds left in regulation. "First play of the second, I twisted my ankle ... I went back out there, my left hammy felt a little tight. I didn't think anything of it, kept playing. I think the layup on [Doug] McDermott put us up one, it kind of intensified a little bit, and then the floater I missed at the end, it definitely kind of put me over the top."
Beal drilled 19 of 31 shots in 39 minutes. His fifth career 50-point game came on the night when teammate Russell Westbrook made NBA history by tying Oscar Robertson for most career triple-doubles with 181. Westbrook had 33 points, 19 rebounds and 15 assists, and he made two free throws with a second left to give Washington the overtime win. He even blocked the Pacers' final shot.
The Wizards (32-36) play their next two games at Atlanta before returning home to face Cleveland and Charlotte. They lead the Pacers (31-36) by half a game for ninth place and trail the Hornets (33-34) by 1.5 games for eighth.
"Let's hope for good news and that he is all good to go," Westbrook said of Beal. "His night can't go unnoticed either. He had 50 ... He has been keeping us together along the season and [been] very exceptional. I am grateful to have him as a teammate."