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The number is all too familiar. For the boys in Washington it symbolizes a milestone… a step in the right direction towards a playoff berth even with 40+ games left in the year. Following their most notable, morale-boosting victory this season against the defending champion Miami Heat team on home grounds, it was only right that the momentum within the Verizon Center spill into last night’s game against the Chicago Bulls. Seeing as how the Wizards had defeated the Bulls only four days prior in the Windy City, this was not an unfamiliar match up and from tip-off, it was obvious the boys wouldn’t settle for anything less.
Now let’s not discredit Chicago, who held a 4-1 record before the game since the release of forward Luol Deng in, basically, a one way trade. Notwithstanding the fact that each win was against a sub-par team, the Wizards were responsible for that slash in the loss column and were more than happy to add another.
The score was tight throughout the game with multiple lead changes. The Wizards, due to their chemistry and cohesiveness on the floor, were able to dictate the overall tempo of the contest and execute their game plan effectively. From the start of regulation, Washington played unselfish ball, having seven out of the nine active players on the roster score in the first quarter. Point guard John Wall and center Marcin Gortat jump-started the offense, combining for 14 of the 30 points scored within the first 12 minutes of play. Wall also had six assists. Shooting guard Bradley Beal was gearing up to have a great game (shooting for five points in the first five minutes) but was taken out before he could get started due to foul trouble.
If not for the contributions of small forward Martell Webster and great bench play, the whole dynamic of this game would have shifted towards the Bulls early on. The second quarter just happened to be an extension of the first with constant basket trading and aggressive play. Yet the Wizards never surrendered their lead as they continued to perform at a high level. Guard Garrett Temple began to show some initiative to be a play-maker with a couple of buckets and a pair of assists at pivotal times in the half. Forward Trevor Booker, proving to be a solid, consistent teammate, ended the half with 10 points and couple of rebounds. The X-factor of the first half however, was Webster. And, while only having nine points to end that half of regulation, he knocked down the open three when given the look. Wall put an exclamation mark at the end of the half by shooting a three pointer with a couple seconds remaining, giving his team an emotional boost and a 54 – 50 lead going into the locker room.
To start the second half, the Bulls came out with a different mindset. They scored quickly and soon took the lead before the Wizards got a chance to get into a flow. Beal picked up another quick foul only one minute into the third; becoming — once again — the seat warmer for Webster, who was contributing quite well. Wall continued to be the consistent asset that he is, from scoring at will in order to keep his team close to distributing the ball efficiently. Power forward Trevor Booker came alive in the third, doubling the three points he scored in the first half in the third quarter alone.
Only three players scored in the third quarter — Wall, NeNe and Webster — which was just enough to have the score knotted at 74 to start the fourth. Beal, playing with four fouls, came into the final quarter of regulation with one item on his agenda: score. He hit the first jumper of the period and didn’t once check his rear view, scoring 9 points to add onto his previous five.
This was the spark that the Wizards needed in order to win this ball game. Wall shot a nice 9-15 from the field, ending with 23 points and 11 assists, stats that are all too common when it comes to his recent play. Temple had one of his most impactful games in recent months with six points and five assists, taking advantage of the opportunities to make plays when presented. Again though, Webster was the second-most important piece behind Wall for this team victory, shooting four of five from behind the arc, ending with 14 points and three assists. Not only did seven out of nine players on the roster score in the first half, six out of those seven scored 10 or more points by the end of regulation.
The Wizards have no time to celebrate as the next game against the Detroit Pistons will determine if they make it over the .500 hump or fall short once again. Sitting in the fifth slot of the Eastern Conference, it will take one win to tie for fourth place. But if the Atlanta Hawks lose to the Miami Heat on Monday, fourth place will be up for the taking. Washington is on a roll with this three game win streak and it would be hard to imagine the team letting a perfect week with a chance to crack .500 slip through its fingertips.
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