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Damnit, Wizards. Damnit.
What's more #SoWizards than dubbing a game likely to determine your playoff seeding "the biggest" of the season and then coming out with all the energy of a grizzly bear in January? Stay tuned, because we'll probably find out once the playoffs start. Bank on it.
Criminy. John Wall recorded this third career triple-double (14 points, 11 assists, 12 rebounds), Marcin Gortat scored 27 points to go with 14 rebounds, and Trevor Booker chipped in 16 points and five blocks (!!) on 4-for-5 shooting and 8-for-8 from the foul line (!!!!), but it wasn't enough as the Wiz started off lethargic, were down 14 after one quarter, shot 1-for-15 from three, and fell to the Bobcats in overtime, surrendering the sixth seed to Charlotte in the process.
Nene had a decent first game back from his sprained knee with 10 points in 17 minutes, but Bradley Beal went a wretched 4-for-15 from the field for eight points. It didn't help that Trevor Ariza, who toughed out 39 minutes despite having the flu, scored zero points. Martell Webster made Washington's only three of the game.
Technically, the Wiz and Cats are tied, but Charlotte owns the tiebreaker by virtue of their 3-1 record against Washington this season. Both squads have four games left, so the Wizards need to win one more game than the Bobcats to reclaim the sixth seed. Washington plays the Magic, Bucks, Heat (who are in a battle with the Pacers for the 1-seed), and Celtics, while Charlotte will face the Celtics, Sixers, Hawks and Bulls.
Yeah, not good. Damnit.
KEY LINKS
Home team recaps: BF StoryStream | Washington Post (gamer, sidebar) | AP | CSN Washington (recap, sidebar) | Truth About It | Wiz of Awes | Hoop District | NBC Washington | Ted's Take | Wizards.com | Monumental Network | Daily Wizdom
Road team recaps: Rufus on Fire | Charlotte Observer (gamer, sidebar) | Queen City Hoops
Postgame interviews: Randy Wittman | John Wall | Bradley Beal | Marcin Gortat | Nene | Kemba Walker | Al Jefferson
KEY STATS
6.7 - Washington three-point shooting percentage (1-for-15) against Charlotte.\
5 - Blocked shots by Trevor Booker against the Cats.
TWEETS OF THE NIGHT
USA Basketball's Jerry Colangelo told Yahoo Wiz G John Wall is "on my radar" for the natl. team roster. JC says he can add or delete players
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) April 9, 2014
Looks like a partial sellout. Do people realize this for 6th place? Or the last time they'll see Bobcats? #wizards pic.twitter.com/lVZMSiMr45
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) April 9, 2014
Publish or perish. MT @mcristaldi: Tonight is also battle of the only 2 current NBA professors: prof. Miller vs prof. Jefferson.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) April 10, 2014
Worst part about this terrible 1stQ, CHA players said they were coming for #wizards' spot. WAS playing like it's ready to hand it over
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) April 9, 2014
@ConorDDirks @Truth_About_It "It works every time!" pic.twitter.com/3PgS5BpJRE
— Adam Chandler (@addc) April 10, 2014
Trevor Booker is out here like Tom Cruise in Jerry McGuire: "Who's coming with me?" Yet to find a Renee Zellweger #wizards
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) April 10, 2014
Magna Carta RT @MikePradaSBN: Best Booker game since ____?
— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) April 10, 2014
Sure, Comcast, the Wizards didn't play with "urgency." They also didn't play with "plays" or "a plan."
— Conor Dirks (@ConorDDirks) April 10, 2014
Marcin Gortat is 10-for-13. Against Al Jefferson. In a big game. But he's "soft," so here he is riding a pegasus. pic.twitter.com/cRAfpsl5co
— Conor Dirks (@ConorDDirks) April 10, 2014
Drake slips on a #Bobcats tee-shirt and heads toward the visitors lockeroom. #Wizards.
— carla peay (@ckpeay) April 10, 2014
John Wall with the Jason Kidd triple double special: 11/10/10
— Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) April 10, 2014
Respect to Trevor Ariza for trying to fight through flu but I'm not sure why Wittman still has him in there after 38 mins and 0 pts #Wizards
— Brandon Parker (@brandoncparker) April 10, 2014
The Wizards crunch time offense makes me want to drink bleach
— Andrew Sharp (@andrewsharp) April 10, 2014
{watches Wizards score 1 point in overtime} {looks to sky} WITTMANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
— Andrew Sharp (@andrewsharp) April 10, 2014
WWWWWWWIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN pic.twitter.com/c0KU2ZzGDw
— Conor Dirks (@ConorDDirks) April 10, 2014
Gortat doesn't care about dropping to No. 7: "right now we can't beat Milwaukee" playing like this #WizardsTalk #NBA #WizBobcats
— J. Michael (@JMichaelCSN) April 10, 2014
Wall basically said, when I asked him why they fizzled, that Booker should've been on the court #WizardsTalk #NBA #WizBobcats
— J. Michael (@JMichaelCSN) April 10, 2014
VIDEO/GIF OF THE NIGHT
At least this was exciting.