‘Still my city’: Wall fulfilled by Washington return

WASHINGTON — John Wall stole the ball after which sank a jumper, and though he was a member of the visiting crew now, the followers in Washington nonetheless sounded impressed.

So he egged them on a bit by yelling one thing he revealed after the sport.

“Nonetheless my metropolis,” he mentioned.

Wall scored 13 factors in his return to Washington, and Nicolas Batum made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 23.8 seconds remaining to assist the LA Clippers ship the Wizards to their sixth straight loss 114-107 on Saturday night time. Paul George scored 36 factors for Los Angeles.

The Wizards drafted Wall with the No. 1 general choose in 2010, and he performed 9 seasons with the crew. After lacking 2019-20, he was traded to Houston, and he returned to Washington as a member of the Rockets in 2021. However there have been no followers for that recreation due to COVID-19. Wall did not play final season both.

With Reggie Jackson out Saturday, the Clippers gave Wall his first begin of this season. He obtained an ovation when he was launched, after which once more throughout an early timeout when a tribute video was proven.

“That is one thing I have been ready for for 4 years,” Wall mentioned. “The primary time I received traded, I got here again with Houston, it was COVID so that you could not be right here. Then final yr I wasn’t enjoying. … I am glad I received the chance to understand it and be right here, and get the love that I believe I deserved. I really feel like I received my flowers.”

Wall appeared to discover a groove within the second quarter. The jumper that led to his “nonetheless my metropolis” exclamation capped a stretch of six fast factors by him. Then he discovered Moses Brown inside for a dunk moments later.

“I assumed it was nice,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue mentioned. “Simply seeing the gang, and the beginning lineup, and the way the gang gave him all of the love. You like to see that, particularly for a man who has gave a lot to this metropolis.”

Whereas the night time was about Wall, it was Batum who made massive photographs within the remaining quarter. He hit three 3-pointers within the final 4:52 and completed with 12 factors. Kyle Kuzma scored 25 of his 35 factors within the first half for Washington.

After Batum’s 3 put Los Angeles up 110-107, Kristaps Porzingis compelled an ill-advised 3 whereas being tightly guarded by Kawhi Leonard. That shot was an air ball, after which Washington’s Deni Avdija was referred to as for a flagrant foul with 16.1 seconds left.

The Wizards scored the sport’s first 10 factors and had been up 63-60 at halftime. They prolonged that benefit to 13 within the third, however Los Angeles scored the ultimate 15 factors of the interval and took its first lead on Luke Kennard’s 3-pointer on the buzzer.

George began the scoring within the fourth with a jumper, and it was tight the remainder of the way in which.

Porzingis had 30 factors and 15 rebounds.