Watch Abdia’s points in the video player above>
Danny Abdia came sharp in the second half of the season. Despite a great Abdia game, Washington lost tonight (Wednesday to Thursday) 127: 112 in Memphis and dropped to a 21:14 balance. The Israeli played 24 minutes and scored 13 points (5 of 8 from the field, 3 of 5 from three), 6 rebounds, assists and a steal.
The story of the game can be described using two numbers: 48:78 for Memphis in points and 39:60 for Memphis on rebounds. Whoever won the knockout under the baskets was Jonas Valencónas, who starred with a monstrous double-double of 29 points and 20 rebounds. By comparison, Scott Brooks’ three chins (Moe Wagner, Robin Lopez, Alex Len) finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds in total.
Another thing the Grizzlies did excellently was stop Bill. After scoring 23 “only” points in a loss to the Bears eight days ago, the NBA’s king of baskets hoped to recover, but once again faced a strong defense that lowered his formidable output to 21 points on a bad percentage (6 of 22 from the field, 1 from -8 of three). The first quarter, by the way, Bill finished without a field goal.
Abdia on the other hand, it seems, likes to play against Memphis. The rookie finished with a double-digit point game for the second time against Memphis and sixth overall this season, when only in his big game against Miami (20 points) did he score more than tonight.
Homestand begins Friday.
Beal 21p-5a-3s
Westbrook 20p-10r-5r-3s
Avdija, Bertans 13p#WizGrizz | @GEICO pic.twitter.com/SOkNPuqTAw– Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) March 11, 2021
Memphis pounced on Washington from the start, and even before the visitors managed to score 10 points, the scoreboard showed a double-digit difference (9:19). The Wizards continued to chase the Bears, and towards the end of the first half they found the momentum they had been waiting for.
Precisely after the Grizzlies led by 19 (the record difference in the game), Washington went out for a 7:21 run that minimized damage and closed the first half with a minor difference of five, 67:62. One of the players who stood out in this run was Abdia, who scored 8 speed points without a miss.
Russell Westbrook’s basket set 73:74 in the third quarter and set up the visitors’ first advantage since 0-2, but Memphis is back to be the one to set the tone of the game thanks to absolute control under the baskets. Eight rebounds on offense in the third quarter and a 0:10 run returned the difference to double digits, hence the Wizards were unable to come back.
In addition to the Lithuanian chin, Ja Morant (35 points in the last game between the teams) also stood out. Last season’s rookie finished with 21 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists, and rookie Desmond Bain set a career high of 20. At the Wizards Westbrook recorded 20 points, 5 rebounds and 10 assists, and Davis Bartans added 13. Among Friday to Saturday: Philadelphia and Joel Ambide arrive in the United States capital. Ben Simmons will be absent.
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