By Darryl Harding Sr
Sitting uncomfortably at an abysmal 7-33 record for the season, the Washington Wizards lackluster play does not necessarily represent their desire to win. Continually trying to improve their record, the Wizards constantly produce with six players averaging double figures overall.
Unfortunately for the Wizards their resilience often falls short and they are outscored in the fourth quarter. Such was the case when Washington traveled to Madison Square Garden to face the Knicks. New York comes off of a Houston Rockets win and has won the last seven out of nine games.
Remaining competitive and clinging to a one-point deficit with three quarters expired, the Wizards continued to struggle despite excellent play from Jordan Poole, with 24 points. A solid eight rebounds coupled with 21 points from Julius Randall, Knicks’ starting power forward, kept New York from stumbling.
But it was an impressive 11 of 13 from the foul line and a game high 41 points from Jalen Brunson that sealed the Wizard’s fate. Even though down by only two with five seconds left, two free throws from New York’s shooting guard, Donte Divincenzo, left the Wizards feeling extremely unmagical, and they succumbed to the Knicks, with the score of 113 to 109.
Holding the second worst record in the league the Wizards go on to face, also struggling San Antonio Spurs, a team with the same wretched record, in what could be called a battle of the bottoms, airing Saturday at 7pm. With the All-Star Game nearing Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr has his work cut out for him.
Sports Insider Daily 