Story By: Sol Tucker
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Washington, D.C–
Once you head into D.C on MLK Day you get a certain feeling about what it was like that historic day on the step of the Lincoln Memorial.. Today the NBA and the Wizards honored the legend of Dr. Martin Luther King with an annual MLK game and the Wizards were able to over come their own woes early in the game and power to a 106-100 victory this afternoon.
The Wizards began the second half of the season by beating one of the teams ahead of them in the Eastern Conference. Bradley Beal scored 29 points, Ian Mahinmi added 21 in what Scott Brooks called a much needed victory against a conference opponent.
“The seventh and eighth seed, their records aren’t great, but I’m sure somebody’s going to surprise somebody and probably jump up there,” Brooks said.
With Beal back in the line-up and Thomas Bryant returning, this has been a much better team at times. What hasn’t been better is games like Chicago, where they should have come away with a victory, but were left scratching their heads as to what might have gone wrong.
“I watch the games. I watch the standings,” Brooks said. “We’re not talking about it. We’re just going to try to get better every game.”
Just like it has been in previous games against the Pistons in the past, it was another physical battle that even saw Pistons center Andre Drummond lose a tooth. There were 10 lead changes, four in succession early in the fourth quarter, and Davis Bertans’ 3-pointer with 9:02 to play gave the Wizards the lead for good. Washington scored nine straight to take a 95-87 lead two minutes later.
Next up for the Wizards a four game road trip that starts with a game in Miami on Wednesday and wraps up on the 28th with a game against the Bucks. Can the Wizards grab a few games before the second half of the season before its too late? This road trip will show a lot about what this team needs to do avoid sinking for good.. because as of right now the ship is still sailing, but is almost below water for good.
