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Wizards vs. Pelicans final score: Washington wins 117-115 in overtime

While Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal scored the points, Daniel Gafford was a blocking machine late and is Wizards fans’ latest cult hero — or is he just the low post player they need right now?

New Orleans Pelicans v Washington Wizards
DANIEL GAFFORD IS THE WIZARDS’ NEW CULT HERO!
Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images

The Washington Wizards defeated the New Orleans Pelicans, 117-115 in overtime on Friday night at Capital One Arena. The win helps keep Washington’s playoff hopes alive after a tough season start.

Russell Westbrook scored 36 points and Bradley Beal added 30 more for Washington, which obviously helped.

But the hero of the game was Daniel Gafford who scored 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting and blocked four shots, most of them in late-game moments to help the Wizards keep this game in reach, especially late when New Orleans was leading by as many as eight points late in the game.

I mean, take a look at these plays! He’s quickly becoming a cult hero among the fanbase!

Overtime was tight as well, and a very late foul helped Westbrook ice the game with some free throws.

I was impressed with the way Washington won the game, largely because they did so despite shooting poorly from the three point line (4-of-27) and weren’t too great from the free throw line (23-of-32), They did hold the Pelicans to 41.2 percent shooting so that helped! Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 34 points.

Washington is back in action tomorrow night when they host the Detroit Pistons. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. ET. See you then.