(Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
Washington, D.C. – The Washington Wizards hopes of making the playoffs are heavily depleted. For starters, the team would need to win the remainder of its games. As well, their Eastern Conference rival Detroit Pistons must lose all of their games and the Chicago Bulls (also in the Eastern Conference) must lose at least one more game. With the fate of Washington’s post season resting on so many different scenarios; it is safe to say that, barring a miracle, the Wizards should just set their sights on a more successful 2016-2017 season.
Despite the fact that there is little hope of getting to the league championships, the Wizards were able to pull out a victory over the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday without their starting point guard John Wall. They beat Brooklyn 121-103 even though the three-time All-Star was out due to significant knee swelling.
Head coach Randy Wittman addressed the media about his decision to sit his star player out.
“He had some swelling in [the right knee] unlike [he’d] had this year,” the coach said. “I didn’t think he wasn’t going to play, because he’s played 77 games. But I had an idea. And then we came in here and it wasn’t much better than it was this morning, we said shut it down… It was just smart to sit him out and I am glad we did. [Guard] Ramon [Sessions] played good.”
Wall’s absence on the wood granted opportunities for other members of the team to step up and, as Wittman said, Sessions did just that, using increased minutes on the court to showcase his skills.
Washington started the match up on a 9-0 run although the Nets did keep the game close throughout the first half. However they struggled in the second to maintain possession of the ball, giving it away eight times.
Sessions — who only learned that he would be in the starting lineup one hour before the game began — finished the night with 18 points and a season-high 13 assists, 10 of which came in the first half of play. This helped Washington go into halftime with a two-point lead.
This game against Brooklyn was the first time this season that the Wizards have been without Wall. Those 77 games Wittman talked about were 77 straight… the win without him is notable.
Wizards guard Bradley Beal led the team offensively with 25 points and center Marcin Gortat finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
The win does keep the Wizards in the hunt for an Eastern Conference playoff spot as they visit the Pistons Friday night. If Washington loses that game, the team will be eliminated from any playoff hopes.