After winning 6 of 7 overall, the Wizards improved to 10-7 over the course of the season.
28 points, 10 rebounds Kyle Kuzma said, “We’re just trying to find ourselves as a team.” Because it’s very difficult to win away.”
Sunday’s game against the Hornets (4-14) was close, but Friday’s 1-point win over Miami Heat in overtime — even after Bradley Beal walked into the locker room with 15.8 seconds to play after kneeling on his quads. Wes Unseld, his junior coach, didn’t have an update on the star’s guard after the game.
Perhaps that’s because the problem of keeping the game tight came from inside the Wizards’ house, not from a shaky zone defense or unfamiliar players on the opposing team.
Starting point guard Monte Morris and backup forward Rui Hachimura were sidelined with a sore ankle, and the absence moved guard Corey Kispert to the starting line-up, robbing the Washington bench of a credible score for Hachimura. The results were even more lethargic among the already flat second unit.
Center Taj Gibson was again called upon to turn the group’s energy around, and second-string big man Daniel Gafford sat out the entire second half.
I think it was difficult. I think he has a little bit of physicality I think. I think Taj did a good job of being more aggressive. He puts pressure on the ball and does things like that naturally,” Anseld said. “…I think Taj has a little more expertise in these scenarios that helps him.”
“He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes,” Kuzma said.
The margin of error was thin and Washington played just enough to keep the lead in the second half. 11 turnovers in the first half fell to six, and the Wizards held the Hornets to 33.3 percent shooting.
Offensively, the Wizards did enough to make up for the night’s biggest self-made problem, an off-game by Kristaps Porzingis. The Latvian eventually scored 12 points, but attempts from the field saw him only 4 of 19.
“He’s going to have a night like that. Hopefully they’re far apart, but he shot the ball at a very exceptional level.” It has to be a place to hang your hat—can we defend well? Of course we have to make some plays, but can we defend enough to give the attack a chance? ?”
Wizards did. Beale started as a guard, scoring 26 points, five assists and five steals, while Deni Avdija scored his 12 points and had his season-high 13 rebounds.
Facing his old team, Kelly Oubre Jr. led Charlotte with 23 points.
Here’s what else you should know about the Wizards win.
Washington posted a season-high 13 blocks to hold the Hornets to 50 points. He was down from 70 points the last time the teams played against each other on November 7. 108-100 Wizards Road Win.
Unseld said Hachimura tweaked his right ankle in the fourth quarter of Friday’s win and is moving every day. Morris is dealing with lingering ankle problems, the coach added.
Doron Wright, who has been out since the end of October with a sore hamstring, will be re-evaluated on Monday. Unseld said scheduling issues delayed his reassessment by a day.
Seeking help for the injured point guard with Morris and Wright, Washington called Capital City go-go guard Devon Dotson and signed him to a two-way deal.
Dotson is averaging 12.1 points and 7.3 assists in seven games with the Wizards’ G League affiliate. On November 15, he recorded the third triple-double in the team’s four-year history with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
“He’s a guy who’s played an NBA game. I think he’s played 22 games in the NBA,” Unseld said of Dodson, who didn’t play on Sunday. “… [He] It provides another perimeter player, another backup point guard that makes the offense easier. He’s going to guard with high probability. “
Washington waived forward Jordan Shakel, who appeared in six games after signing a two-way deal in March.
Porzingis was charged with a technical foul after a first-quarter brawl. When Hornets guard Jalen McDaniels was guarding Porzingis, the center yanked his arm to pull McDaniels towards him, presumably to lure him into a foul.
As the Charlotte players ran in, Unseld stepped aside to separate the two before escalating.
