The Washington Wizards moved into the most arduous stretch of the season so far this week, and results have been decidedly mixed. After crushing the Boston Celtics at home as a send-off before their southwestern adventure, the Wizards snatched one of their biggest wins of the season on Monday night, starting out their road trip with a gut-check win over the Houston Rockets.

Not many expected them to win the next night against a hot Dallas Mavericks team, but the extent to which the Mavericks dominated that game was somewhat disheartening – as was a late loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night.

The Wizards have already claimed a very valuable win on one of the toughest road trips of the season, and upcoming games with San Antonio (where they haven’t won this century) and New Orleans will determine whether we can call it all a success.

Let’s grade.

Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

John Wall: 12.5 PPG (44.2 FG%), 3.5 RPG, 9.8 APG, 1.8 SPG

For John Wall, this week will be defined, fairly or unfairly, by his late turnover that fumbled away the Wizards’ chances at a win in Oklahoma City.

Wall wasn’t the reason they lost – in fact, his second-half scoring was one of the biggest reasons why they were there at the end. But this season we’ve come to expect greater kinds of fourth quarter heroics from Wall, and it was surprising to see him come up short in a big moment.

It happens, and John Wall is the type of guy who’s going to take motivation from a moment like that. It’s what makes him a franchise player.

Grade: B

Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Bradley Beal: 18.3 PPG (42.1 FG%), 5.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.3 SPG

Good news, everyone! The Big Panda had the breakout game we were waiting for!

Beal matched James Harden shot for shot on Monday night, scoring 33 points and making every play the Wizards needed him to make in DC’s biggest road win of the season. Beal also turned in a cool 21-10-6 against the Thunder, his first double-double in over a year.

Those were two of his best games of the season – considering he struggled through poor shooting nights against Boston or Dallas, it was good timing. Panda’s starting to feel it. Watch out, America.

Grade: B+

Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Paul Pierce: 14.8 PPG (63.3 FG%), 3.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.8 SPG

Quoth the Truth, “this is why they brought me here.”

Paul Pierce’s assassinous tendencies and ice-water-veins-having helped carry the Washington Wizards to victory against Houston – he hit a gigantic three-pointer with just over a minute left to give the Wizards a decisive lead and calmly executed on the final possessions to guide the Wizards home.

Pierce’s three-point shooting has run hot-and-cold this season, but this week was a hot one: 8-14 from beyond the arc, to raise his season average to 37%. So why in the world did he only play 20 minutes against Oklahoma City? Hm? Five fouls? Well, crap.

Grade: A

Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Nene: 8.8 PPG (51.7 FG%), 3.8 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.3 SPG

A ho-hum week for the Brazilian big man, who seems to only really assert himself offensively when the Washington Wizards really need it.

He’s our silent guardian, our watchful protector, and he had a really great night against Houston that was key in the Wizards claiming that win.

It was a classic Nene game: 12 points, five rebounds, a few steals, great defense, and a final box score that didn’t totally reflect his contributions.

It’d be nice for him to score more, but I can’t say that the Wizards really need it. Just… please, stay healthy.

Grade: B

Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Marcin Gortat: 8.0 PPG (51.7 FG%), 7.0 RPG, 1.0 BPG

Marcin Gortat’s struggles on offense continue, and it’s really not his fault.

We all know that Gortat thrives in the pick and roll, scoring best when he’s moving towards the basket, so why have the Washington Wizards made no effort to get him looks in the pick and roll? Over the past couple weeks, almost all of Gortat’s shot attempts have come either on jumpers or on post-ups – it’s not that Gortat can’t score from these spots, but the Wizards are needlessly lessening one of their better offensive threats by taking the pick and roll out of the playbook.

Having Marcin Gortat stand still is a waste of Marcin Gortat.

Grade: C