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Is everyone still hyperventilating? Good, me too.
Wow. It's impossible to overstate how big that win was for the Wizards. Not only did it come in triple overtime against a Raptors squad that had already defeated them thrice this season, but it came on the back of the team's All-Star leader, John Wall, who called the win the best of his career.
Wall had a great game, scoring 31 points to go with 11 assists, but it was his sheer dominance at the end of triple OT that spoke loudest. Wall absolutely took over the game. We regularly remark that a player won a game 'by himself.' Well, Wall damn near did.
Mike already reviewed all this in his immaculate recap yesterday morning (which is why we've put off Pixels until today), but because it's worth going over again: With the score notted at 127-127 with 1:22 to play, Wall beautifully intercepted a pass from Greivis Vasquez on a pick-and-roll, knocking it to Marcin Gortat, who pushed the ball ahead to a streaking Trevor Ariza for an easy slam.
On the next possession, Wall stripped Vasquez, raced upcourt and found Martell Webster for a reverse layup, and a 131-127 lead with one minute to play. After a pair of free throws from Demar DeRozan, Tyler Hansbrough found himself switched on Wall, who, well, I'll just let you watch what happened further down this post. Suffice to say, Wall got the best of Psycho T, and from there it was academic.
Just a momentous, monster win. The victory was Washington's fifth in a row -- their longest in two seasons -- and pushed its record to 30-28. Not to be overlooked was Gortat's career game (a career-high 31 points to go with 12 rebounds and 4 blocks), and huge contributions from Chris Singleton (13 points, nine rebounds) and Andre Miller (11 points, 5-of-7 shooting) off the bench.
KEY LINKS
Home team recaps: BF StoryStream | SB Nation NBA | Washington Post (gamer, sidebar, Reid column) | AP | CSN Washington (recap, sidebar) | Truth About It | Wiz of Awes | District Sports Page | Hoops Habit | ProBasketballTalk | All Over The Hill | Ted's Take | Wizards.com | Monumental Network | Daily Wizdom
Road team recaps: Raptors HQ | National Post (gamer, sidebar) | Toronto Sun | Toronto Star | Canadian Press | Raptors Republic | Tip Of The Tower | TSN | Raptors Rapture
Postgame interviews: Randy Wittman | John Wall | Marcin Gortat | Bradley Beal | Martell Webster
KEY STATS
108 - Field goals attempted (!!!) by the Wizards against the Raptors.
5 - Three pointers made by Washington against Toronto. Somehow, the Wiz still won.
34 - Washington's scoring advantage in the paint, where the Wizards outscored the Raptors 80-46. This probably helped make up for the lack of threes.
TWEETS OF THE NIGHT
Yeah, there's more than usual. Let's begin at the end of the second overtime.
Sooooo close.... Sooooo #Wizards pic.twitter.com/GVucwfjiBw
— Danny (@recordsANDradio) February 28, 2014
UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) February 28, 2014
I DREAMED A DREAM OF BEALS GONE BY
— Conor Dirks (@ConorDDirks) February 28, 2014
That shot would have counted in AMERICA. #WizardsTalk
— Michael Jenkins (@JenksCSN) February 28, 2014
This triple OT odyssey almost definitely ends in crushing disappointment, but screw it, let's go anyway! WIZZZZZZZARRRRRRRRRRRDS
— Andrew Sharp (@andrewsharp) February 28, 2014
After double free basketball, comes the 5th quarter. I hate the 5th quarter.
— Clinton Yates (@clintonyates) February 28, 2014
good nite pic.twitter.com/07fyKEtYfq
— wizznutzz (@wzzntzz) February 28, 2014
Until RT @dcsportsbog Still pic.twitter.com/EoqpgXQtPv
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) February 28, 2014
Dear Adam Silver: Please call Turner and tell them to switch to Wizards-Raptors immediately or they can find new programming in 2016.
— Brian Mahoney (@briancmahoney) February 28, 2014
No "@DuHelo: RAPTORS WIZARDS PLAYOFF MATCHUP PLEASE"
— dc_fusion (@dc_fusion) February 28, 2014
Gortat on Thursday said he joked to Nene after his injury that now he was going to get all the shots.
— Adi Joseph (@AdiJoseph) February 28, 2014
@matt_terl pic.twitter.com/DLKV5VpPU0
— Danny (@recordsANDradio) February 28, 2014
Is this the game when #Wizards fans finally embrace Marcin Gortat? He's been good all year, btw.
— Conor Dirks (@ConorDDirks) February 28, 2014
Marcin Gortat is the best player in the NBA.
— Eric Freeman (@freemaneric) February 28, 2014
Just me sporting the new NBA-approved King James sleep mask pic.twitter.com/9A1c2USsq0
— T.J. Doyle (@gheorghetheblog) February 28, 2014
Switching vacation plans from Vegas to Poland. #WizardsTalk #Gortat
— Michael Jenkins (@JenksCSN) February 28, 2014
Our game thread has officially hit insanity. Over 2000 comments and counting... http://t.co/4eUWhgd6Ee
— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) February 28, 2014
105 seconds. 127. 127. Canada. United States.
— dc_fusion (@dc_fusion) February 28, 2014
Marcin Gortat is getting MVP chants in my apartment tonight
— Andrew Sharp (@andrewsharp) February 28, 2014
This game is a...classic? Ducks
— Ward Watkins (@PhoneBoothWiz) February 28, 2014
I don't want this game to end. I want 9 overtimes
— Kevin Jones (@Mr_KevinJones) February 28, 2014
JOHN WALL JOHN WALL JOHN WALL JOHN WALL JOHN WALL JOHN WALL JOHN WALL JOHN WALL JOHN WALL JOHN WALL JOHN WALL JOHN WALL JOHN WALL JOHN WALL
— Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) February 28, 2014
JOHN MOTHER FN WALL! 2 huge steals #Wizards
— Adam McGinnis (@adammcginnis) February 28, 2014
.@PretendHunkler just noted that Gortat has clawmarks on his shoulders from the #Raptors, meaning he'll be a dinosaur zombie in 30 minutes.
— Conor Dirks (@ConorDDirks) February 28, 2014
Amazingly close: Last time either team led by more than 4 points in Wiz-Raptors was with 8 minutes left in fourth quarter.
— Kevin Dunleavy (@KDunleavy) February 28, 2014
Eff it. This game IS a classic. Yeah I said it, I'm owning it too #Wizards
— Ward Watkins (@PhoneBoothWiz) February 28, 2014
Wall is OUR point guard.
— The Ball Hogs (@BallHogsRadio) February 28, 2014
More clutch defense by John Wall. Amazing. On that Gary Payton, ladies. Welcome to the Bay.
— Kyle Weidie (@Truth_About_It) February 28, 2014
QUICK AINT FAIR
— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) February 28, 2014
John Frickin' Wall!!
— Scott Jackson (@JacksonSports) February 28, 2014
JOHNNY BASKETBALLLLLLL
— Ben M (@BenAgent0) February 28, 2014
Wall needs to get paid!! Oh wait.
— WizardsXTRA (@WizardsXTRA) February 28, 2014
Hesitation dribble Hesitation dribble Hesitation dribble oh my oh my oh my
— Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) February 28, 2014
Yeah, get worked, Psycho T. John Wall made a joke out of him.
— Conor Dirks (@ConorDDirks) February 28, 2014
WALL! Another big hoop, drives to the lane and scores, he's got 31p, #Wizards up 133-129, 29.9 sec left #WizRaptors http://t.co/abHf8TY2Ih
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) February 28, 2014
Jesus, is John Wall ever not doing something amazing? #Wizards
— Joe Drugan (@TheNatsBlogJoe) February 28, 2014
John Wall's hesitation move is absolutely deadly. There's no stopping it
— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) February 28, 2014
John Wall is good at playing basketball.
— JapersRink (@JapersRink) February 28, 2014
THE WIZARDS ARE GONNA DO IT! THEY'RE ACTUALLY GONNA DO IT!
— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) February 28, 2014
And awesome defense from Wall. Just a friendly reminder: there were actually people who didn't think he was worth the max deal
— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) February 28, 2014
— DavidDunn (@ImDavidDunn) February 28, 2014
WALL EXCITED DRIBBLE
— Jack Kogod (@Unsilent) February 28, 2014
My opinion I think @John_Wall the best point guard in the #NBA #Wiz
— Mike Vick (@MikeVick) February 28, 2014
It's been fun, folks. / #WizardsTwitter collectively drops mic /
— Conor Dirks (@ConorDDirks) February 28, 2014
Washington FINALLY beats Toronto in 3OT, 134-129. Marcin Gortat drops career-high 31 Pts, adds 12 Reb. John Wall: 31 Pts, 9 Ast.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 28, 2014
WIZARDS!!!! GORTAT TAT TAT! pic.twitter.com/KHmHV9SAj3
— Danny (@recordsANDradio) February 28, 2014
Whew. Tiring. Oh, the last time Washington played a triple-OT game, none of the current Wizards were born.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) February 28, 2014
Best win in the John Wall / Theodore Unit Era. #Wizards win in triple OT, 134-129 over #Raptors.
— Kyle Weidie (@Truth_About_It) February 28, 2014
5 wins in a row is longest for Wizards in 2 seasons #WizardsTalk #NBA #WizRaptors
— J. Michael (@JMichaelCSN) February 28, 2014
A three-overtime thriller his to the good guys. Wall puts the team on his back. Gortat came up John Candy big. Ballgame!
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) February 28, 2014
#WALLSTAR #GORTHAMMER #WIZARDS #AGAINST #THE #WORLD
— Andrew Sharp (@andrewsharp) February 28, 2014
#WizWin RT @MySportsLegion: Who would have thought TNT would ever cut away from a Heat/Knicks game for a Raptors/Wizards game? Props to TNT.
— Wizards Game Ent. (@WizGameEnt) February 28, 2014
#Wizards-#Raptors pic.twitter.com/VeQ6Q3FVLw
— Conor Dirks (@ConorDDirks) February 28, 2014
That really happened! #3OT #WizRaptors pic.twitter.com/nsy52kr54P
— Monumental Network (@MonumentalNtwrk) February 28, 2014
Dying. RT @cooooooookiee: Hansbrough's face when he was trying to guard Wall #Wizards pic.twitter.com/SdFrVEYEvA
— Conor Dirks (@ConorDDirks) February 28, 2014
Wall is getting tons of love on Sportscenter at the moment.
— The Ball Hogs (@BallHogsRadio) February 28, 2014
This is how myths are written. RT @PretendHunkler: @MGortat #StepUp #SteppedUp pic.twitter.com/xtPwaNhJdw
— Conor Dirks (@ConorDDirks) February 28, 2014
Tyler Hansbrough switches to defend John Wall, immediately regrets decision, gets crossed over and scored on: http://t.co/Rl5sjYwD1E (VIDEO)
— CSN Washington (@CSNwashington) February 28, 2014
BF celebrations after wins are the best http://t.co/rbr7F3mcV6 pic.twitter.com/fjvtrET6no
— Umair Khan (@UKhanNBA) February 28, 2014
What a great comment and pic from @BulletsForever right here from the post game elation thread pic.twitter.com/tRvkWhkHuB
— Albert L. (@aleeinthedmv) February 28, 2014
"Listen, I told you, I think the Wizards are gonna be the third-best team in the Eastern Conference." http://t.co/SuUjhs9Ue5
— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) February 28, 2014
VIDEO/GIF OF THE NIGHT
There can't be just one from a triple OT game, right? Right. Just consider this John Wall's personal highlight reel.
(H/T @HoopDistrictDC)
(H/T @Truth_About_It)
(H/T @cjzero)
Here's Wall's complete highlights from the game.
GAMETHREAD COMMENT OF THE NIGHT
Holy crap you guys commented 2,478 times. *slow clap*
This deserves a sampling of elation.
this post count has to be a SBN record...
For this site only haha.
YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
2013 - John Wall's 1st All Star appearance, playoffs
2014 - Bradley Beal's 1st All Star appearance, 2nd round
2015 - Beat Cleveland in 2nd round, Conference Final
2016- KD to DC, NBA Champion
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GREATEST WIN EVER
YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
The user formerly known as "Shark Fin Soup" and currently known as "the guy who didn't save his ancient password before he reinstalled his browser"
Yes! Yes! Yes!
GAME OVER!
NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LETS GOO!!!!!
I will never forget J.W. face when he realized the wizards had the first pick lls
Oh, and this also amused me.
In this suit
2013 - John Wall's 1st All Star appearance, playoffs
2014 - Bradley Beal's 1st All Star appearance, 2nd round
2015 - Beat Cleveland in 2nd round, Conference Final
2016- KD to DC, NBA Champion
GAMETHREAD ROLLCALL
BEST WIN OF SEASON BY FAR