Story By: Richard Thonas
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Washington, D.C–
It was another night without Bradley Beal, but the Wizards, who had struggled to find the answers for scoring and defensive combinations the past four games found Kris Humphries this game as he led the Wizards with 23 points, including an impressive 5 for 8 from three point range.
Humphries knocked down a straight-away three as the Wizards regained the lead 63-60 at the 8:20 mark of the third quarter. The Wizards were able to control the third quarter ending it on a 13-2 run. In one of their most impressive quarters in recent memory, the Wizards held Orlando to 37 percent shooting and the team collectively had 10 assists but the Wiz led by just 3, 79-76 entering the fourth quarter.
“Well, they’re better than we are. They don’t win as many games against us over and over again and not be better than us,’’ Magic Head Coach Scott Skiles said. “But we should be the ones flying down the floor in the third quarter and converting with speed instead of them doing it to us. … We’ve got a lot of work to do.’’
Orlando has now dropped 10 consecutive games against the Wizards – a streak that dates all the way back to March 29, 2013.
Also, Orlando has lost eight straight games in Washington. The Magic’s last win in D.C. was all the way back in February of 2012. Orlando plays their Southeast Division rivals in D.C. again on Jan. 1.
Washington regained the lead 92-90 with just 4:30 to play. The Wizards used an 8-0 run including another big three-pointer from Kris Humphries as the Wizards stretched the lead to 5, 104-99. John Wall locked down on defense turning the Magic over and they had no other option but to foul Wall on a clear path foul.
