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tying Bryan Murray for 10th on the career list.

NEW ORLEANS -- Monty Williams was hoping a return to the Crescent City after an arduous, five-game road trip would energize his weary Pelicans. Tim Brown Jersey . But it was the visiting Washington Wizards who played with more intensity, holding off a furious late rally in a 102-96 victory Wednesday night. Trevor Ariza scored 21 points and John Wall added 20 to lead Washington, which is suddenly finding the road more inviting. The victory was the second road win in as many nights for the Wizards, who have now won six of seven away from home. "There was a stretch in the first half where we had five stops in a row and scored on all five which created the lead for us," Washington coach Randy Wittman said. "We were a little sloppy down the stretch but it was a real solid effort." Bradley Beal added 17 points, Jan Vesely 12 and Marcin Gortat and Nene 11 each for the Wizards. Beal made three of his first four 3-point attempts and added four assists. Vesely was 6 of 8 from the field and grabbed seven rebounds, a game-high five on the offensive end, which led Washingtons 13 second-chance points. Gortat added 14 rebounds and former Pelican Ariza 10 to lead Washington to a 46-37 advantage on the boards. "(Vesely) is definitely our most athletic big, and he brings a lot of energy," Beal said. "Whenever hes playing the way hes capable of playing, were a great team." Eric Gordon scored 23 points and Anthony Davis 21 for the Pelicans, who were coming off of a four-game road trip that saw New Orleans endure a two-day delay in Indianapolis because of the severe winter storms that paralyzed air traffic earlier this week. "We just did not compete in the second quarter, not to the level that they were competing," Williams said of a period when the Pelicans were outscored 33-16 to fall behind 61-44. "Theres no excuse for that. Weve got young guys." Brian Roberts scored 11 points, all in the second half, and Greg Stiemsma 10 for New Orleans, which trailed by as many as 23 in the third quarter. "Our energy was down," Pelicans guard Austin Rivers said. "I didnt think we were focused. We are picking up bad habits. When we get down six or seven, we act like the game is over and the lead gets worse. Thats not coaching. Thats on us. "Its discipline and pride. Weve got to have a little something inside you." The Pelicans trailed 87-66 to begin the fourth quarter, but opened with a 14-4 run to trim the deficit to 91-80 midway through the period. The Wizards committed turnovers on three consecutive possessions during one sloppy stretch and scored only two points during another five-minute span. New Orleans got within 93-87 with 2:56 remaining, but could come no closer. "The biggest deal to me was that the level of competing was different (in the fourth quarter)," Williams said. "We did not make any adjustments. We did what we were supposed to do and we had a 30 to 15 quarter." With the exception of an early two-minute window, Washington dominated the first half, playing energized on the defensive end and controlling the interior. The Wizards made their first five field-goal attempts in racing to an 11-6 lead. But just as quickly, the shots quit falling and New Orleans took advantage, outscoring the Wizards 14-1 in a little more than two minutes to take a 20-12 lead with 4:21 left in the quarter. The Pelicans defence effectively sealed off the middle during the run, forcing Washington to settle for looks from the perimeter. However, New Orleans spurt proved to be an early tease for the fans. The Wizards closed the quarter on a 16-8 run to tie the score at 28 and opened the second on a 12-0 run. Martell Websters 3-pointer gave the Wizards a 40-28 with 7:55 remaining in the quarter. During that stretch, the Pelicans missed four shots and committed two turnovers. Washington closed the half on a 21-16 run to take a 61-44 lead. "We were a little bit tired," Pelicans centre Alexis Ajinca said. "Sometimes its in the head, sometimes its in the legs. Tonight. it was a little bit of both." NOTES: The 61 points given up by the Pelicans tied a season high for points allowed in the first half. New Orleans also gave up 61 in the first half Jan. 1 at Minnesota, which resulted in a 124-112 loss. ... Davis made a 3-pointer with less than one minute remaining, the first of his career. ... The Pelicans lost their third consecutive game to an Eastern Conference opponent. Johnathan Abram Womens Jersey . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Otis Sistrunk Raiders Jersey . On Saturday, the paths of Drew Tate and Kevin Glenn cross again as opposing quarterbacks. ST. LOUIS -- The Dallas Stars are trying to make a late playoff push. Against a team battling for first place overall in the league, the Stars stepped up their game. Colton Sceviour got the first two goals and Antoine Roussel scored on a breakaway in the third period to give the Stars a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night. "This was a huge test for us," goalie Kari Lehtonen said. "One of the best teams in the league and we played last night and travelled here late, and showed up, and it was just a huge win." Cody Eakin had a goal and assist and Lehtonen made 33 saves for the Stars, who have won four of five in pursuit of a Western Conference playoff spot. Dallas entered the day three points out of a playoff spot before winning for the second straight night and saddling the Blues with just their sixth regulation home loss. The Stars opened a five-game trip after beating the Predators 7-3 on Friday and won without production from their top line of Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and Valeri Nichushkin. "I dont know if desperation is the word. That kind of sounds bad," Sceviour said. "But definitely we feel like these are games we need to win. "This is a start and we want to build off it." Alex Steen had a pair of power-play goals for the Blues, who had been 8-0-2 in their previous 10 at home including an overtime loss to Dallas earlier this month. St. Louis fell one point behind Boston for first place overall in the NHL after a showing coach Ken Hitchcock labeled "sloppy." "What we are right now is too inconsistent," Hitchcock said. "Weve got too many players who are having good games and then are following it up with poor games." "Have to send a few messages here in the next couple games and see if we can get everybodys attention." Dallas led 1-0 and 3-1 against the Central Division leaders. Roussel skated in alone on Ryan Miller for the clincher after the puck hopped over ddefenceman Kevin Shattenkirks stick at the opposite blue line at 7:56 of the third. Jim Otto Raiders Jersey. If the Blues had been ahead, Shattenkirk would not have been trying to hold the line. "We feel like wed been all over them in the third period, then they get the fourth one," Steen said. "We were a little late tonight." Steen has 33 goals on the season. He scored on a deflection from the high slot in the second period and beat Lehtonen scrambling across the net on a long rebound in the opening minute of the third, each time shaving the deficit to one. Sceviour has three goals the past two games and Eakin also has scored in consecutive games for the Stars. Hitchcock picked a trio of former Stars -- Steve Ott, Brenden Morrow and Derek Roy -- for the opening faceoff. That line surrendered the only goal of the first period, with Otts turnover leading to Sceviours sixth of the season, and finished a combined minus-5. Sceviour tapped in a rebound off his skate to make it 2-0 at 7:21 of the second. "Theyre not the prettiest goals, but well take them," Sceviour said. Dallas needed just 25 seconds to answer Steens first goal on Eakins deflection. Notes: Stars D Alex Goligoski tied his career high with four points against Nashville on Friday a day later when a scoring change gave him a fourth assist in a 7-3 victory over Nashville, and he had an assist in the second period against St. Louis. Goligoskis other four-point game came with Pittsburgh when he had a goal and three assists against Tampa Bay on Jan. 5, 2011. ... Stars F Vernon Fiddler earned his 200th career point on a second-period assist. ... Stars coach Lindy Ruff worked his 1,239th game, tying Bryan Murray for 10th on the career list. ... Shattenkirk had two assists and set career highs with 35 assists and 44 points. ... Steen has three goals and four assists the past four games. ... David Backes had an assist for 356 career points, passing Pierre Turgeon for 11th in Blues history. ' ' '
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