Wizards 119
Lakers 108
March 28, 2017 - Staples Center, CA
The Wizards came back from as many as 16 down to defeat the Lakers at the Staples Center 119-108 and end a drought that lasted for NEARLY FOUR DECADES. Many of the players, a lot of you loyal Wizards fans and most of us bloggers here at Hoop District weren’t even born the last time the Wizards won a division title back in 1979. The Wizards, with their win, clinched the Southeast Division and in the process, ended the longest drought for a division title in pro sports. Could this be an early sign that this DC curse is finally coming to an end? We’ll find out this spring but for now, let’s enjoy this dub and get back to work tonight against that other LA team.
Here are my takeaways from a wild night in La La Land:
Quick Hits:
This team is clutch.
I mean, we all knew it before but tonight proved it. This could’ve easily been a trap game against a 21-win team but in the fourth quarter the Wizards showed heart and resiliency. There’s something different about this team. This isn’t the Wizards of old. Entering the final frame down 95-82, the Wizards outscored the Lakers 37-13 over the last 12 minutes. It’s one thing to score 37 in the first quarter but 37 IN THE FOURTH QUARTER WHEN YOU’VE ALREADY PLAYED 36 MINUTES WORTH OF BASKETBALL is even more impressive. The victory is also their 16th double-digit comeback win of the season.
Third quarter struggles.
Before that fourth quarter of awesomeness, everybody back home in DC was panicking. The Wizards gave up 15 buckets on 16 shots by the Lakers, and were outscored in the beginning of the frame 28-14. The Lakers also did good down in the post and outscored the Wizards in the paint by 18 points. As impressive as that comeback win was, you CANNOT have a quarter like that if you expect to make a deep run in the playoffs.
The #HouseOfGuards lead the way down the stretch.
John Wall dropped 34 points and dished out 14 assists and Bradley Beal added 16 points. After the Wizards cut the deficit to two, Wall stole the ball from DeAngelo Russell, raced down the floor and slammed it home to tie the game. Wall would later make two free throws to give the Wizards the lead. Beal would follow with a nasty step back jumper and got the and-one in the process. Wall would then dish an alley-oop to Markieff Morris and Wall would later get the dagger jumper with just under a minute to go.
Highlights:
The #WallStar gets the party started.
An and-1 for the Panda.
Dagger!