Story By: Sol Tucker
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Washington, D.C–
Just when it looked like the Wizards had a chance to win a game shorthanded, the Hawks and Jalen Johnson soared in the fourth quarter and delivered the Wizards another loss at home, 131-116.
Washington started this game down three players injured and they were without Cam Whitmore, coaches decision, and the inability to stop the Hawks push late in the game became a major problem.
Jalen Johnson had his way late in the second half and finished 30 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists. This was the second triple double in two games by Johnson.
Vít Krejci scored 14 points and made three of his four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help Atlanta pull away after giving back a lead that had been 20 in the second quarter and 18 in the third.
Washington had several solid runs in the third quarter and early on in the fourth behind another solid night from CJ McCollum. He hit seven 3s as the Wizards stayed in the game on 17-of-28 shooting from long range.
The Wizards fought back into a brief tie after their 23-8 run tied it at 97 early in the fourth, that was until the Hawks went on an 8-0 run.
Atlanta put the game away for good when Luke Kennard hit a 26-foot jumper with 6:27 remaining off another Johnson assist giving the Hawks a 115-102 lead.
It took the Wizards almost a minute to score again on another three by McCollum making it 117-105, but that was about as far as they would get within striking range.
After the game Wizards Head Coach Brian Keefe spoke about the disconnect between Whitmore and the reason to sit him out a game when the team was already short. “This was a decision about how we run as an organization around here and that reason for sitting him tonight,” said Keefe.
Some fans have even said that Whitmore looked a bit out of place over the past few games and perhaps the Wizards have taken notice of his lack of hustle, but Keefe would not go more into detail for the reasoning.
