The Washington Wizards opened the season on the road Wednesday night against the Philadelphia 76ers. This was a marquee matchup for two reasons: the debut of Russell Westbrook and Doc Rivers as the 76ers new coach. Although the Wizards were in control most of the game, they were ultimately defeated 113-107. Here are three takeaways from the game:
Russell Westbrook delivers triple double performance
Westbrook came out blazing in his first regular season game with the Wizards, becoming the first player in franchise history to record a triple-double in a debut with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 15 assists. With only one preseason game under his belt, there were some moments when Westbrook committed crucial turnovers. Nonetheless, he moved the ball well and appears to be building good chemistry with his teammates. Despite his impressive stat line, Westbrook acknowledged that he wasn’t completely satisfied with his performance.
Russell Westbrook on how he holds his teammates accountable and calling his performance tonight “not good enough”…even with a triple double.#WizSixers #DCAboveAll pic.twitter.com/CPBR4uAVCx
— Carita Parks (@CaritaCParks) December 24, 2020
4th quarter mistakes proved to be costly
Poor defense in the paint, fouls, and turnovers greatly contributed to the game slipping away from the Wizards down the stretch. The Wizards gave up 40 points to the 76ers in the fourth quarter after keeping them scoreless in the second half until a little over the six-minute mark in the third quarter. That’s when the great defensive effort broke down. Joel Embiid played a huge role in the 76ers overall success but especially when it came to helping his team secure the victory in the last minutes of the game. Embiid scored 15 points on 5-8 from the field. The 76ers also outscored the Wizards in the paint with 52 points compared to their 24 points. Sixteen of the 76ers paint points came in the fourth quarter.
Brad describes what went wrong in the second half and how he feels about where the team is right now. #WizSixers #DCAboveAll pic.twitter.com/YmsQKmc5n7
— Carita Parks (@CaritaCParks) December 24, 2020
Deni Avdija excels in first NBA start
The Wizards first round draft pick Deni Avdija showed enough promise in the preseason to earn a spot in starting lineup. One thing he has repeatedly told reporters over the course of the past several weeks is “I’m not scared of anybody.” That’s exactly how he approached the game. Avdija was aggressive the moment he got his hands on the ball, nailing a three-pointer early in the first quarter. He has also shown himself to be a reliable contributor on the defensive side of the ball. Avdija finished the game with seven points, four rebounds, and one assist.
“It’s the first game and everybody’s excited,” Avdija said. “I just took a shot when I had the opportunity; I’m not forcing anything. I’m going to be patient, it’s only the first game, and of course, throughout the season, we’re going to get better.”
The final score doesn’t represent the outcome that the Wizards were hoping for but there were several bright spots the team can build on as they prepare for their next game on Saturday, December 26th against the Orlando Magic at Capital One Arena.