Story By: Sol Tucker
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Washington, D.C–
If you told us that there were just two games remaining in the season for the Wizards entering tonight’s match-up against the Bulls, it would have been hard to believe based on how they played to the end against the Bulls in what ended up a two-point loss, 129-127.
Corey Kispert scored 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter for Washington in its home finale. Deni Avdija had 23 points and 12 rebounds. The Wizards have now lost five in a row and will wrap up the season on Saturday in Boston.
The Wizards faced a team with mostly bench Bulls bench players as Billy Donovan opted to sit most of his starters to include DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic and Alex Caruso.
Even Donovan opting to sit some players, players like Adama Sanogo, had 22 points and 20 rebounds to lead the way for the Bulls. Sanogo, who has spent quite a bit of time in the G League had his way inside with the Wizards as the absence of both Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole was felt tonight.
“We’ve played a lot of close games, fourth-quarter games, but (it’s) taking advantage of their opportunity,” interim coach Brian Keefe said about his young players. “I think that’s the thing that I’ve been really pleased about with them, is that when their opportunity has (come) throughout the year, they’ve seized the moment.”
Washington who has had quite a few games in the second half of the season the came down to the wire, tonight was no different as the Bulls kept this one interesting to the end.
Up six late, the Bulls made only four of their final eight free throws to allow the Wizards one last failed comeback bid.
Kispert’s 3 from the wing cut it to 127-126. On the next possession, Baldwin missed his second free throw with a chance to tie it at 128. Sanogo sank one of two free throws before Kispert missed a running, contested leaner at the buzzer.
With the Wizards GM courtside tonight with owner Ted Leonsis, it is expected that they will begin their search early next week to find a replacement for Brain Keefe and start to evaluate who can contribute to core guys like Kispert and Avidija going into next seaosn.
