Wizards beat Pelicans for fifth straight win

The Washington Wizards beat the New Orleans Pelicans 113-103 on Saturday evening. Listed here are 5 takeaways from what went down…

5 in a row

The Wizards are within the midst of a massively essential five-game highway journey with the Feb. 9 commerce deadline shortly approaching, and they’re rising to the problem. They beat the Pelicans on Saturday evening for his or her fifth straight win total, tying a season-high, and their third consecutive win to start this highway swing.

The Wizards have now gained 12 of 18 video games since their 10-game shedding streak that spanned throughout November and December. On this sport, they bought revenge on a New Orleans workforce with out Zion Williamson that blew them out in D.C. earlier within the month. The Pelicans are at present on a seven-game shedding streak.

Washington is now 23-26 on the season, tied with the Chicago Bulls for the Tenth-best document within the East, i.e. the ultimate spot within the play-in match. The Wizards are simply two video games again from the eight-seed now with solely six video games left till the commerce deadline.

Gafford went off

Taking part in for the third straight sport with out Kristaps Porzingis subsequent to him within the beginning lineup, Daniel Gafford got here via with one among his greatest video games of the season. He was a monster within the first half with 14 factors, setting the stage for a ultimate stat-line of 21 factors (season-high), 12 rebounds (tied season-high) and 5 blocks.

Gafford was in all places on each ends of the ground, often making spotlight performs. He had an enormous alley-oop dunk within the first half arrange by Bradley Beal, who threw a cross he needed to attain again for. Not lengthy after, he rejected a Jose Alvarado floater try into the stands on the sideline. Gafford has been actually good for the Wizards ever since he was promoted to the beginning lineup and the actual fact he is achieved it each with and with out Porzingis is a testomony to him. Washington is now 6-2 with out Porzingis this season.

Kuzma performed to win

This sport was instance of how Kyle Kuzma’s worth extends past his numbers. He performs the best method as a prepared passer and defender, and on this specific evening that got here on the expense of his scoring. Kuzma went scoreless within the first half on simply 4 shot makes an attempt. He solely had two subject objective makes an attempt till there was simply over a minute to go within the second quarter. Have in mind he’s each in a contract 12 months and making his closing argument to be a first-time All-Star.

Kuzma was passing up his personal seems to be to make the additional cross and get others higher photographs. He was additionally expending a variety of power defending All-Star Brandon Ingram, his former teammate on the Lakers. Ingram got here out scorching, making his first three photographs. However Kuzma helped maintain him to 1-for-8 within the first half. Ingram ended up with 22 factors on 8-for-22 taking pictures with six turnovers, an evening the Wizards will take contemplating the expertise he’s.

Kuzma, in the meantime, got here out way more aggressive in search of his shot within the third quarter. He had 10 factors within the second half to associate with 9 rebounds, 5 assists, a block and a steal for the sport.

Bench enhance

The Wizards traded away their greatest bench scorer earlier within the week, however within the three video games since have seen others step as much as fill the void. On this sport it was a collective effort, because the 4 gamers who appeared off the Wizards’ bench mixed to attain 44 factors, besting New Orleans’ second unit which contributed 39 factors. 

Deni Avdija led the way in which with 15 factors and 9 rebounds, as he lived within the paint off aggressive assaults in transition and off catch-and-go’s driving to his proper. Taj Gibson had 9 factors, 10 rebounds, three assists and a block. Kendrick Nunn added 12 factors and Delon Wright had eight factors.

The bench contributions had been important given Kuzma did not rating at his standard price and Beal actually struggled whereas battling Herb Jones for a lot of the evening. He had 16 factors on 5-for-17 taking pictures with 5 turnovers. Beal, although, made some large photographs on the finish to seal the win.

Valanciunas ejected

Gibson was a part of the second unit scoring effort and he additionally took one for the workforce within the first half. Whereas defending within the put up, he took an elbow to the aspect of the top from Pelicans large man Jonas Valanciunas. The unique name was a foul on Gibson, however a evaluation by the officers decided Valanciunas to have dedicated a flagrant 2. That bought him ejected from the sport.

Valanciunas will not be a star, however he is a heck of a participant and the Wizards know that firsthand. He has given them bother through the years on account of his dimension, physicality and talent. So, getting him out of the sport was an enormous break for the Wizards. Gibson simply may be just a little sore tomorrow.