Washington , D.C—
The have been some dramatic finishes in the a Wizards history and last night you can add Nene slamming home a 93-92 victory for the Wizards last night to the list.
This game started out really as a battle of the big men and it was all Nene in the first quarter against Anthony Davis. Nene had 10 of his career high 30 points to set the tone in the game early and then again late in the game.
“I just prayed,” Nene said. “I wanted to finish with the ball in my hands. They put the ball into my hands. John, he did amazing, penetration right there, he found me right there.”
This was a very uncharacteristic game for the Wizards as the standard scoring from Wall and Beal who only combined for 21 points in the game , but it was Wall’s play at the end of the game that set the tone for what Wall can do if he isn’t scoring to lead the way.
“John made two plays at the end that you can’t teach,” Washington coach Randy Wittman said. “He got to the basket for the layup. For being down one with the time running down, under control, to make that last play to Nene for the dunk, it was good execution down the stretch.”
Tonight was also the first chance for the Wizards to see their trade product in Andre Mille for the first time. Miller, who was acquired in a deadline deal on Thursday, made his Wizards’ debut, scoring five points with three assists in 16 minutes.
“I thought I probably played too many minutes,” Miller said. “It will probably take about a week. My wind was cool.”
The final two free throws from Anthony Davis set the stage for the game’s last bit of drama. Nene knew Wall would be driving. When Wall found him going to the basket, he didn’t know how little time remained on the clock. But the ball was in his hands. That was enough to pull off one of the most dramatic finishes in Verizon Center in the past few years.