On Saturday, the Washington Wizards hosted the Brooklyn Nets for their third and final matchup of the season. After losing their previous two meetings, this one would go into overtime. However, Washington would emerge victorious, tangling up the Nets, 119-113.
On Saturday, the Washington Wizards hosted the Brooklyn Nets for their third and final matchup of the season. After losing their previous two meetings, this one would go into overtime. However, Washington would emerge victorious, tangling up the Nets, 119-113.
This was the tail end of a back-to-back after the Wizards beat the Magic on Friday. It would almost mark the first time this season that Washington has won a back-to-back set.
Although Washington started the game off strong, they would lose their 23-point lead and it would come down to the wire during the fourth quarter. John Wall told Chris Miller of NBC Sports Washington, “this game should’ve never gone into overtime.”
The Nets were without Tyler Zeller (sore hip), with Quincy Acy receiving the starting nod.
The Wizards were also celebrating Polish Heritage Night, and Marcin Gortat did his country proud.
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Wizards Started Strong
Washington came out with high energy on both ends of the court. Markieff Morris would knock down two from downtown. While Bradley Beal would add two of his own from three-point range. Including one that went over the Brooklyn Bridge.
Gortat was very active on the boards with 6 rebounds.
The Wizards starters were firing on all cylinders, which allowed the reserves to come in early. Washington would end the first stanza up 33-18.
Wizards offense flowed in the first half
John Wall would record his 14th double-double of the season with 23 points, and tie his season-high of 16 assists. Everyone on the Wizards were comfortable taking their shots.
Bradley Beal would lead all scorers with 24 points, including four shots from 3-point range. While Marcin Gortat recorded a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 6-for-8 from the field.
Tomas Satoransky was superb. He would have a beautiful assist to Beal, for the three-pointer. Sato would finish with 6 points and 2 assists.
Wizards gave the Nets life
However, the Wizards wold lose their 23 point lead during the third quarter. The Nets cut the lead down to eight, 68-60.
Kelly Oubre would temporarily stop the bleeding by knocking down a deep three for the buzzer beater.
However, the damage was already done as Washington was outscored in the third quarter, 35-24. At this point, another sub-.500 team believed that they could make a comeback, and they gained a second wind. Brooklyn then elevated their level of competition.
On the defensive end, the Wizards left their foot off the gas, allowing the Nets to have a field day at the three-point line.
Quincy Acy, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Caris LeVert would all knock down triples during the third quarter.
With a hot hand going into the fourth, Brooklyn came out swinging. Joe Harris would open up the quarter knocking down a triple. At this point, the Wizards have a ball game, as Allen Crabbe would also join the three-point club.
The Nets would later hit back to back threes, including a fastbreak bucket, with 1:45 left in regulation. Now the Wizards who never trailed throughout the game, are only up by one point, 105-104.
John Wall goes into overdrive in overtime
Wall would make both his free throws to put the Wizards up 107-104 with 16 seconds left. But then Quincy Acy would hit a three to knot the game up at 107 with 9.1 seconds left.
Wall missed his jumper as the game goes into overtime. However, Washington would pull out the win, as Wall took over and Beal would hit a crucial three.
The All-Star point guard would also hit back-to-back jumpers, putting the Nets away at 118-111. Oubre would draw a foul as he pulled down the defensive rebound. He would make one of his free throws and game over.
Oubre had an outstanding game finishing with 17 points, and making 3-for-4 from thee point range.
Wall took over in the final minutes to put this game away, but as he said, it never should’ve gone into overtime. The Wizards are too good of a team to still be struggling at this juncture to sub.-500 teams.
On Martin Luther King Day, the Wizards host the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday at 2:00 p.m.