Washington and Danny Abdia will want to forget this game as soon as possible. The Wizards hosted tonight (Thursday through Friday) for the second time in 48 hours at Madison Square Garden, and again lost to the New York Knicks. This time it ended 106: 102, at the end of a game that was already in Washington’s hands. Abdia played just 11 minutes, didn’t score (0 off 4 from the field), dropped two rebounds, blocked once and committed four offensive fouls.
06:10 minutes into the third quarter the team from the capital led 54:71, but a total breakdown in the decisive quarter of the fight (39:24 for the Knicks) allowed the host to complete the season sweep over the Wizards with three wins. While Washington is counting ten losses in its last 12 games, Abdia is counting fifth (!) In his rookie season without points, and fourth since February 24th.
Final from New York.
Beal 26p-9a
Hachimura 21p-9r
Mathews 16p
Westbrook 13p-18r-9a-4b#WizKnicks | @GEICO pic.twitter.com/ayYBPmhJyg– Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) March 26, 2021
So what did we have tonight at the Garden? Well, a basketball game that did not rise to a high level, and we will start with the numbers that will tell: Washington scored 46% from the field, shot eight threes with 31% and missed 13 free throws (scored 61%), while the Knicks scored 37% From the field, seven threes at 25% and missed 11 free throws (scored at 74%). The Wizards, by the way, recorded 17 turnovers for their duty (14 for Westbrook and Bill).
Despite the unflattering numbers, Washington has put up a not-so-bad basketball game, especially on defense, probably in relation to the recent defeat against the exact same team. Bill scored 7 of the visitors ‘first 11 and at the end of the first quarter Scott Brooks’ team led 20:25. Washington opened the second quarter with a quick 0:10 run that gave it a 15-point lead, and from that point the Knicks concentrated on chasing. In the half, when the Wizards led 45:60, Abdia already had three fouls (as in the previous game).
New York missed shot after shot, Julius Randall (37 points between Tuesday and Wednesday) didn’t hit, and then came the fourth quarter. A sudden 4:19 run by the Whites reduced the lead to 82:81 about eight minutes to go, and less than five minutes to go R. Barrett scored six quick points that equalized the score to 91:91.
Immediately afterwards the mighty rookie Emanuel Quickley sniped a three-pointer that set up 91:94, completed the comeback and set the Knicks their first advantage of the evening. Randall woke up with a big basket that widened the gap to 91:96 and closed out a 0:11 run, and another huge basket of his half a minute to finish decided the fate of the tackle and sent Tom Thibido to fifth in the East, a touchdown distance from fourth.
Alec Brex excelled in the Knicks with 27 points and big moves from the bench in the second half, Barrett scored 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, Quickly scored 16 and Randall settled for 13. With Washington still ranked 13th in the East, Bill scored 26, Roy Hachimura 21 and Russell Westbrook finished with 13 points on 20 percent from the field, 18 rebounds, nine assists and four blocks (equaled the career high).
