The Washington Wizards entered the 2019-20 season with no expectations after essentially rebuilding their roster in the offseason. The most veteran players on the team are 30-year-old John Wall and 26-year-old Bradley Beal who recently signed a two-year contract extension. Everyone else is under the age of 25. The Wizards young roster may have a lot to learn but the one thing that already differentiates this team from last year’s squad is their will to win.
In the season opener against the Dallas Mavericks, the Wizards came up short 100-108 after a surge in the fourth quarter after facing a 23-point deficit. The late run wasn’t enough but it was the first indication that the Wizards are going to fight until the very end.
Beal finished with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists. However, he still had trouble finding his shooting rhythm as he went 7-of-25 from the field and 1-of-11 from three-point range. In an odd event towards the end of the regulation, Beal was ejected late due to some competitive chatter with Dallas Forward Luka Doncic.
Wizards first round pick Rui Hachimura debuted with 14 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 7-of-15 from the field. Thomas Bryant also had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
The Wizards were back in action versus the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. With Beal having another dismal shooting night, it was the youngsters that took over. The duo of Hachimura and Bryant combined for 40-points to lead the Wizards to their first win of the season. The Wizards went on a 14-2 run to close out OKC, 97-85.
“It’s great,” Beal said. “We played extremely hard, and that’s how we’re gonna have to play to give ourselves an opportunity at the end of the game. We did that. And even better, we were able to close it out. Two, three years ago, we wouldn’t have been able to close a game out like this. But we have a different group, guys who are locked in and who wanna win. And that’s what we need.”
The Wizards still have some work to do especially from their three-point shot. The team is averaging 26.8% from behind the arc. Additionally, Beal is continuing to struggle with his shot. His field goal percentage after two games is 29.8%. He ended the OKC game with 17-points.
“The way you guys played, that’s how everybody’s going to fall in love with you guys,” Coach Brooks told the team after the game. “You guys laid everything on the court. That’s how you play, you just play hard for each other.”
This was a positive road win as the Wizards face their first back-to-back of the season on the road in San Antonio. Another win will close out the three-game road trip 2-1.