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Wizards erase 19-point deficit to steal victory in L.A.

Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

It looked like a new era for the Los Angeles Lakers. Call them the No-Time Lakers, with no Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Julius Randle or Nick Young.

This shorthanded, rag-tag crew looked spry on Tuesday, storming out to a sizable lead against the visiting Washington Wizards. They led by as many as 19 at one point, but the second half saw Washington slowly chip away, the low-on-talent, high-on-effort Lakers unable to keep pace. 

The Wizards would ultimately steal the 98-92 victory, but the Lakers hung as tough as could have been reasonably expected.

It's hard to fault the poor kids in forum blue and gold, what with untested rookie Jordan Clarkson and journeyman Wayne Ellington tasked with 38 shots between them. Both played well, too, with Clarkson scoring a career-high 18 points and Ellington pouring in 28. But their shooting load speaks to just how thin on offensive punch the Lakers are with so many injuries, and 35 second-half points weren't enough to keep the Wizards at bay.

John Wall, playing through a sore left Achilles, nearly notched a triple-double with 21 points, nine rebounds and 13 assists, with 11 of those points and six of those dimes coming in the second half. Kris Humphries came alive, too, grabbing 11 second-half rebounds after going without a board in the first half.

Playing without Paul Pierce, the Wizards gave Otto Porter the starting nod. He responded with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, behind only Wall and Bradley Beal (19 points) among Washington scorers.

The win is the second in a row for the Wizards following a two-game skid, and they've now won nine of 13 to push to second in the Eastern Conference at 31-15. The Lakers, meanwhile, are well-served in the long-term by these entertaining and competitive losses, flashing progress but nudging closer to a top-five draft pick at 12-34.

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