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So much for being .500, huh? Frankly, once Martell Webster and Nene left the game with injuries, and with Bradley Beal already sidelined, it was debatable whether the Washington Wizards were even the more talented team on the court Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks, who arrived at Verizon Center sporting a league-worst 3-15 record.
That doesn't excuse how this game started, though. The Wizards began the game looking like a team and bought into the hype of being the third-best team in the Eastern Conference, which was already a dubious honor, and looks even more like one today.
The Bucks aren't a good team with a full roster, and they were missing a couple pieces last night, yet the Wizards still let them score 56 first half points, with themselves scoring just 13 in the second quarter. John Wall tried to put the team on his back, and nearly led a comeback that Washington didn't deserve, but in the end a poor defensive play (one of many Wall had against Brandon Knight) led to Knight hitting a game-tying three to send the game into overtime, where the Wizards could muster only three points en route to a dispiriting 109-105 loss.
An unacceptable loss, and Randy Wittman said as much after the game. But even more significant might be the injuries to Webster and Nene. Webster landed awkwardly following a last-second heave to end the first half, and crumpled to the floor in obvious pain. He was putting weight on both feet as he was helped back to the locker room, but was declared out with a left ankle sprain. Meanwhile, Nene left the game with tendinitis in his foot, and we all know what that could mean.
This team could get by without Beal, but not without Webster, too, and certainly not without Nene. This could get ugly. Cross your fingers.
KEY LINKS
Home team recaps: BF StoryStream | Washington Post (gamer, Porter sidebar) | CSN Washington (recap, sidebar) | Wiz of Awes | Wizards.com | Monumental Network
Road team recaps: Brew Hoop | Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (gamer, sidebar) | Bucksketball
Postgame interviews: Randy Wittman | John Wall | Otto Porter | Trevor Booker
KEY STATS
10 - Chris Singleton's shooting percentage on the night, one 1-for-10 shooting, yet when the Wizards needed a bucket toward the end of overtime to give themselves a chance, who do you think ended up taking the shot? *drink*
80 - John Henson's shooting percentage, because why the hell not, eh? Henson scored 19 points and hauled in 17 rebounds against the Wizards. There are no words.
29 - Points scored by Khris Middleton against the Wizards. Nope, not Kevin Durant. Khris freaking Middleton.
0 - Points scored by Otto Porter in his rookie debut. Sigh.
TWEETS OF THE NIGHT
Jan Vesely dunk to end half for Wizards #WizBucks https://t.co/cOAB6cYqNo
— JoeGlo (@JoeGlo1) December 7, 2013
@William_Stokes ugh i’m off my game that i missed that. well done.
— Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) December 7, 2013
BREAKING: John Wall has been forced to play 1-on-5 vs. Milwaukee in the fourth quarter. #LeaguePassAlert
— HELLO my name is (@JohnCTownsend) December 7, 2013
Man, this would be a fun game if it weren't so terrible.
— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) December 7, 2013
@BulletsForever Wizards getting to .500 is like Icarus flying too close to the sun
— Christopher Ingraham (@cwingraham) December 7, 2013
VIDEO/GIF OF THE NIGHT
This makes me smile way too much. "YES." (H/T @Truth_About_It)
GAMETHREAD COMMENT OF THE NIGHT
GAMETHREAD ROLLCALL