Washington, D.C–
If the All Star break was not right around the corner, the Wizards could use just a plain old break from battling each night to the end as they did tonight with the pesky Sacramento Kings. A few late runs by the Kings didn’t stop the Wizards from capturing a 93-84 victory in the final home game before the All Star break.
For the Wizards the challenge has been to get to several games over .500, something they have yet to do this season. With the push after the All Star break, they have a solid chance to make the playoffs for the first time in six years, or since Gilbert Arenas led them there.
“I don’t want them to be satisfied,” Wittman said. “We’re back to .500. We’re better than .500. I want them to believe that. They believe that.”
Sacramento who entered tonight’s game winning just 13 games seemed to give the Wizards all they could handle offensively with a dose of Isaiah Thomas, who finished the game with 30 points and De Marcus Cousins with 18 points.
The Kings out rebounded the Wizards 49-38, but made only 35.4 percent of their field goal tries, went 2 of 11 from 3-point range, and committed 18 turnovers leading to 26 Washington points.
For the Wizards it finally wasn’t John Wall leading the way it was, Nene’s 18 points that helped the Wizards down the stretch, that saw the Kings cut the lead to 4 points with 7:33 remaining in the game.
Bradley Beal contributed late in the game and hit a key three pointer to push the lead back to 10 points at 85-75 with 6:01 remaining. This would be all the Wizards needed down the stretch.
After the game, Nene sounded off about the in ability to get above that .500 mark.
“I don’t want to answer that. I don’t care about .500,” Nene said. “We need everything we can. That’s the mentality. If you’re going to think small like that, it’s fine, just stop right there. If you want to go for the gold, the championship, make the team better, you need to think forward.”
