Story By: Richard Thomas
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Washington, D.C–
There are a few names that come up as 30+ point scorers in their first three games, Mike, Kobe and now DeMarr Derozan. His 40 points against the Wizards puts him in good company with these guys from 1986 and 2005, and it was enough to send the Wizards to a 0-3 start to the season.
John Wall had 33 points and 11 assists, Otto Porter racked up 23 points and 13 rebounds, and Marcin Gortat put 15 points and 10 boards in 43 minutes of action. They combined to shoot 30-42 (71.4 percent) from the field. The problem is the Wizards just could not defend DeRozan late in the fourth quarter.
“I’m just a student of the game,” DeRozan said. “I just try and put everything together, be a student of the game while working, always feeling like I’m new to the game so I can soak up as much as possible. I try to release it once I get out there on the court.
If there was one thing the Wizards could take away from tonight that is positive, it would have to be the play of Otto Porter, who shot 11 of 13 and had 23 points for the Wizards (0-3), who committed 21 turnovers that turned into 30 Toronto points.
“That’s hard to overcome,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said. “There’s a few things that we have to correct.”
Washington will face Atlanta for the second time in the first week of the season on Friday night. Lets hope that their bench shows some improvement, otherwise Brooks is going to have to look for some answers for his starters.