The skidding Washington Wizards bumped into the streaking Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday evening at Capital One Enviornment and misplaced, 130-119, thanks largely to Davis taking part in bully ball within the paint and LeBron James taking part in bully ball in all places else.
Sadly for the Wizards (11-13), who misplaced Bradley Beal early within the first quarter to what Coach Wes Unseld Jr. mentioned was a proper hamstring pressure, they caught the Lakers (10-12) simply because the guests are figuring issues out.
Sunday introduced Los Angeles’s fifth win in six video games, and Davis has powered a lot of the run — his season-high 55 factors Sunday have been massively spectacular however removed from unbelievable. Over the eight-game stretch main into Sunday’s matchup, the middle had averaged 32.9 factors and 15.4 rebounds whereas capturing a devastating 63.1 %.
How good is Davis today? A one-handed, off-balance sling of the ball with lower than 5 seconds to play within the third quarter circled the rim earlier than dropping in. A staunchly pro-Lakers crowd showered him — greater than as soon as — with “M-V-P!” chants within the fourth quarter.
By the point he and James have been simply exhibiting off with lower than 5 minutes to play, it seemed like a Lakers dwelling recreation. James had 29 factors, eight rebounds and 6 assists. Davis added 17 rebounds to his scoring haul. Russell Westbrook had six factors, seven rebounds and 15 assists.
Requested to judge how the Wizards performed protection towards Davis, Kyle Kuzma was blunt.
“We didn’t,” he mentioned. “It was very, very, very difficult. When these guys are wholesome, ain’t too many individuals stopping their decide and roll.”
The Wizards got here into Sunday’s recreation within the precise reverse place because the Lakers. They wanted a win and as an alternative wound up with their sixth loss in seven video games, taking part in to the Lakers’ strengths with subpar transition work and troubled paint protection. Washington was permitting the league’s fifth-most factors within the paint earlier than it confronted the Lakers, who feasted for 72.
Kuzma’s fourth-quarter play towards his previous group was a uncommon spotlight — he went on a streak of scoring 13 straight for the Wizards as he labored his option to 26 factors and 7 rebounds — however he fouled out with 4:10 to play. Each time he had a pleasant dunk or hit a jumper, there was Davis or James ready on the opposite finish.
Porzingis led Washington with 27 factors and 9 rebounds however was sluggish to begin with Davis staring him down. Beal scored two factors in three minutes earlier than he went to the locker room.
Right here’s what else to know concerning the Wizards’ loss:
Beal subbed out with 8:31 to play within the first quarter and by no means returned. Unseld mentioned he can be additional evaluated Monday. The Wizards go to Chicago on Wednesday and Indiana on Friday.
Kuzma and Unseld mentioned one key to turning issues round is to do not forget that the Wizards have received in bunches earlier than.
Kuzma mentioned getting again to taking part in with tempo and confidence whereas involving the function gamers is one components for achievement. Porzingis mentioned beginning video games with extra edge and power would assist set the tone on protection.
“We must always not overreact, however we have to perceive that this isn’t who we’re going to be. We’re not — I’m not going to accept that,” he mentioned. “We wish to demand extra from ourselves. I wish to be a successful basketball group. I wish to be a successful basketball participant and be on a successful group. So, yeah. Belief the teaching employees and determine it out.”
One recreation after he logged a season-high six blocks in a loss at Charlotte, Gafford notched one other milestone with a season-high 19 factors. Unseld sometimes paired Gafford with Porzingis in an try to sluggish Davis within the paint; that was unsuccessful, however Gafford did appear to play extra freely towards the Lakers’ massive man. He had a handful of muscular dunks and confirmed off his athleticism.
Darvin Ham, the Lakers’ first-year coach, spent one among his eight seasons taking part in within the NBA with the Wizards. What he remembered most concerning the 1997-98 marketing campaign he performed alongside Chris Webber, Juwan Howard and Rod Strickland was that the Wizards went 42-40 — and didn’t make the playoffs.
“I want we had the play-in system again then,” Ham joked, including that he nonetheless retains in contact with a lot of his former teammates and group workers from that point. “Fascinated by Wes’s father, who was the [general manager]. . . . [Sacramento Kings Coach] Mike Brown, who was the video coordinator on the time. Simply John Outlaw, whose son J.J. works with [Cavaliers adviser Bernie Bickerstaff and Coach J.B. Bickerstaff] in Cleveland. So it’s simply a variety of household ties, man, from that one 12 months. It’s humorous how our lives have come to all intersect. However that is one among my favourite cities on the earth and one among my favourite locations to come back work and go to — simply a variety of good reminiscences. But it surely sucks as a result of we had a extremely good group that didn’t make the playoffs.”
Ham wasn’t the one one making a return. The Lakers and Wizards have sturdy connective tissue courting from the July 2021 commerce that despatched Westbrook to Los Angeles and introduced Kuzma to Washington, however the Wizards’ No. 15 decide in 2018, Troy Brown Jr., and former middle Thomas Bryant additionally fill out the Lakers’ bench. Bryant, who started his profession in Los Angeles, spent 4 seasons with the Wizards earlier than returning to his group of origin.
Washington aired a tribute video to Bryant within the first quarter in honor of his first recreation again. He had 4 factors, and Brown had six.