Meeks, Mac lead Wizards to 126-96 win over Guangzhou

WASHINGTON — Jodie Meeks scored all 19 of his points in the first half and Sheldon Mac added 17 as the Washington Wizards opened their preseason schedule with a 126-96 win over Guangzhou Long-Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association on Monday night (Tuesday Manila time).

Tomas Satoransky had 13 points and Jason Smith 12 for the Wizards, who were without four-time All-Star John Wall (rest). Bradley Beal, Washington's other starting guard, had six points in eight minutes. That left plenty of minutes for the backups.

"We have some firepower off the bench," Meeks said. "Guys are ready to play and ready for the season to start."

Tyler Hansbrough, a seven-year NBA veteran and a member of North Carolina's 2009 national championship team, led the Long-Lions with 29 points and 11 rebounds. Guangzhou missed all nine of its 3-point attempts in the first half and finished 3 of 19 in its sole exhibition game against an NBA team on this trip.

"It's a great opportunity for a lot of these guys who have never been in an NBA arena," Hansbrough said. "It's good for us to come over here and play against one of the best teams in the world. We can grow from this."

Meeks, one of the Wizards' primary offseason additions, made four of five 3-pointers as Washington led 57-38 at halftime. He finished 7 for 9 overall from the field.

"He gives us a knockdown-shooter off the bench," Wizards coach Scott Brooks said.

Hansbrough had 12 points and eight rebounds in the first half against a Wizards team that came within one game of reaching the Eastern Conference finals last season.

"We've watched them on TV. Now we get to come to the court to play against them, " Long-Lions coach Cui Wanjun said. "It (helps) not only the understanding of NBA Basketball but also helps to improve (our) basketball skills.