Wizards beat Lakers with easy 98-92 win

John Wall of the Washington Wizards drives with ball against the Los Angeles Lakers.

MCT/Los AngelesOn a night they came to honour Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss on his birthday, a night that was called “Remembering Dr. Jerry Buss,” the 2014-15 edition of injury-riddled Lakers played inspired.But the career nights from the Lakers starting backcourt of Wayne Ellington and Jordan Clarkson wasn’t enough to stop the Washington Wizards from rallying for a 98-92 victory Tuesday night at Staples Center.Washington’s backcourt of John Wall (21 points, 13 assists, nine rebounds) and Bradley Beal (19 points) helped the Wizards pull out the win.Ellington had 28 and rookie point guard Clarkson had 18 points in his third start of the season.They were just two of the players Coach Byron Scott said the team was going to “evaluate” this season while Kobe Bryant is out with a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder and while Nick Young recovers from a sprained right ankle.“I’m getting more comfortable,” Clarkson said. “I just want to continue to get better.”Ellington and Clarkson combined for half of the Lakers’ points and helped them build a 19-point lead in the first half before Los Angeles lost to a Wizards team with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.“I just made up my mind that I was going to come out aggressive,” Ellington said. “We’re a team that needs to be hungry.”Scott played for the Lakers in the 80s during the Showtime era, when Buss was in the midst of winning 10 NBA championships.Buss, who passed away almost two years ago, would have turned 82 on the 27th of January if he was still alive.Jeanie Buss, Jerry’s daughter and the president of the Lakers, sat in her usual seat at Staples Center, a row behind the court-side seats.The team gave out Lakers’ rings to fans as they entered the building, and the team gave the fans something to cheer about despite losing their ninth consecutive game, 11 of 12.With so many injuries on a roster that’s not very good to begin with, Scott was asked what Jerry’s message would be to the team.“Stay the course. Stay the course,” Scott said. “We know we’re going through some rough times right now. The water is rough, but just stay the course. It’ll get back to where it’s smooth sailing and everything will line up like it should. That means the Lakers will be back to a championship-caliber team.”