By Tiffany Williams –
On Thursday night at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., the Washington Wizards faced off against the Charlotte Hornets in an exciting matchup that finished in a narrow 113-110 victory for the Wizards.
Jordan Poole emerged as the standout player for Washington, leading the team with an impressive 25 points. In addition to his scoring, he contributed significantly on both ends of the court, recording six rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal. Poole’s sharpshooting was particularly notable as he drained five three-pointers during the game, marking his ongoing streak of making at least one three-pointer in 56 consecutive games. This streak not only represents a personal best for Poole but also ranks as the fourth-longest active streak in the NBA.
Bilal Coulibaly also had a strong performance, scoring 20 points while adding six rebounds and five assists. It is the seventh time this season that he has surpassed 20 points in a game, establishing a new career high. Additionally, his scoring has been steady, as he has now reached double figures in six consecutive games, demonstrating his growing confidence and contribution to the team’s offense.
Jonas Valanciunas put together a solid outing as well, amassing 14 points along with a team-leading 12 rebounds. Valanciunas also contributed three assists and recorded a season-high three steals, which led to his ninth double-double of the season. This performance marks Valanciunas’s second consecutive game with a double-double, indicating his consistent presence on the boards, and he has now tallied multiple steals in back-to-back contests.
With this victory, the Wizards have improved their head-to-head record against the Hornets to 2-0 this season and have now achieved three consecutive wins over Charlotte, a feat not accomplished since the 2016-17 season. Historically, the Wizards have performed well against the Hornets, holding a 7-3 record in their last ten matchups stretching back to the start of the 2022-23 season.
Looking ahead, the Wizards will continue their four-game homestand as they prepare to host the New York Knicks on Saturday night. This upcoming game will be the first of two consecutive meetings between the two teams, adding an extra layer of intensity to the rivalry.
In their previous encounter in November, the Knicks triumphed decisively with a 134-106 victory. Last season, the Knicks dominated the regular-season series, winning all three matchups and extending their winning streak in this series to four consecutive seasons. This stretch is particularly notable, given that the Knicks had not won a series against the Wizards since the 2012-13 campaign. As the Wizards gear up for this critical game, they will be looking to turn the tide and establish their dominance over the Knicks.
Sports Insider Daily 