Story By: Sol Tucker
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Washington, D.C–
It’s a safe bet to say that the Wizards fans have become more frustrated with the night after night results that have piled up the 41 losses on the season, but the boos for Jordan Poole tonight, just might summed up the real frustration in a 114-106 loss to the Cavs.
While this isn’t the Cavs teams from a couple of seasons ago, who were just as bad as the current Wizards, this is an upstart Donvan Mitchell led Cavs of 2024. Mitchell continues to be the leader on this team and would finish the game with 40 points.
Here is what the Wizards had to look at after tonight and perhaps take a hard look at what they can part with at this point as the trade deadline looms tomorrow, because a team like the Cavs is one of the best in the NBA currently and the Wizards will only make it there if they make the changes starting tomorrow.
The Cavs recorded their 7th consecutive win (LONGEST ACTIVE STREAK IN NBA). They are now 15-8 on the road this season (BEST IN NBA) and have a 15-1 record in last 16 games and top out at 20-4 record since Dec. 16 (BEST IN NBA). This is what winning should look like and the Wizards just don’t seem to have anything like this currently.
Kyle Kuzma led the way for the Wizards with 28 points, while Corey Kispert scored 23 off the bench. Daniel Gafford collected 14 points and 13 rebounds for Washington, which dropped its fourth straight game. Tyus Jones scored 15 points and dished out a game-high eight assists.
What is very disappointing is that this game was tied at 57 at the half and it looked like the Wizards were actually going to have a chance, that was until the fourth quarter woes rolled around.
The Wizards had a totally different offensive rotation that didn’t seem to be anything like the Kuzma capped 17-4 Washington scoring run that helped fuel the Wizards to a 74-68 with 5:21 left in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Kispert’s hard-nosed play followed by a Delon Wright 3-pointer gave the Wizards a 90-88 lead with 9:28 left. Yes, that’s right, the Wizards controlled the game at this point.
Mitchell responded with a three-point play, giving Cleveland a lead it would not relinquish. The game-changing play began a 9-0 Cavaliers run.
Tyus Jones jumper cut Washington’s deficit to four points with 2:59 left before Mitchell once again responded, this time with a 3-pointer.
Cleveland made all six of its free throws in the final minute to cement the eight-point victory.
As fans exited even more boos could be heard as Jordan Poole exited the court with a huge goose egg on the scorers sheet a 0-5 from the field and 0-4 from long range. He did add 5 assists in the losing effort.