Reliving every Washington Wizards Leap Day game in history
By Arrick Joel
Leap Day, 2008: Wizards defeat Bulls in rock fight
After a 16-year hiatus from Leap Day action, the Washington Wizards returned for a February 29th contest on the road against the Chicago Bulls. Despite a difficult offensive day from both sides, the Wizards were able to buckle down and secure a 97-91 victory at the United Center in Chicago.
Much like their last Leap Day game in 1992, the Wizards played shorthanded in this one. The Wizards were missing both Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas due to injury and needed production from unfamiliar places to come away victorious with their stars sidelined.
Six players ended the evening in double-digit scoring for Washington, led by Antawn Jamison in the second of his two career All-Star seasons. Antonio Daniels dropped in six points in the fourth quarter, including clutch free throws in the final minutes. As a team, the Wizards came away with 10 blocks and 11 steals, a huge effort defensively that paid dividends in a second-half comeback win.
Leap Day, 2012: Magic three-pointers too much for Wizards
Coming off the NBA lockout and the mid-season firing of head coach Flip Saunders, the Washington Wizards were visited by the Orlando Magic on Leap Day while in the midst of some transition. Unfocused, Washington allowed Orlando to rain in 15 three-pointers, leading to a 102-95 Magic win.
All five Magic starters finished the night scoring double-digit points. Ryan Anderson and Jameer Nelson each knocked down four shot attempts from beyond the arc. From the bench, 27-year-old JJ Redick scored 15 points with a pair of made three-pointers.
The loss was the Wizards' sixth consecutive, struggling to gain their footing under coach Randy Wittman. Second-year guard John Wall did all he could to give the Wizards a chance at defeating the 22-13 Magic, scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter. Wall's heroic efforts included six points on a 9-0 Wizards run to tie the game with under seven minutes to play.