Story By: Sol Tucker
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Washington, D.C–
There was certainly a lot going on in D.C tonight. The main show was that the Lakers were in town and with that came the return of Russell Westbrook for the first time since the trade to the Lakers and then there is LeBron. So much yellow and purple in attendance. What they didn’t expect is for the Wizards to steal the show late in the game and take much needed W, 127-119.
The Wizards who have relied heavily on Kristaps Porzingis since he returned off the injured list did exactly what the Wizards picked him up for, late game scoring.
Porzingis connected on a 3-pointer with 38 seconds left to put the Wizards up by six, and James couldn’t answer at the other end. Washington outscored the Lakers 34-20 in the fourth quarter.
James came into the night needing 19 points to tie Karl Malone.
“Obviously at some point I’ll be able to look back at this moment, but right now the feeling I have — I can’t separate it,” James said. “We had a great opportunity to pick up some more momentum.”
For the first time in a few games, it looked like the combo of James, Westbrook and Anthony would finally be able to dominate as they had intended. They did just that, however they could not find a way to connect in the final quarter when Porzingis hit everything that was passed his way.
Perhaps one of the more notable stats of the night was one that most fans in attendance probably didn’t even think about. James passed Malone in the same building where Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals moved past Jaromir Jagr and into sole possession of third place on the NHL’s career list in goals earlier in the week.
