Wizards have no answers for Kevin Durant in loss to Nets

“He’s an MVP-level participant for a purpose,” Wizards Coach Wes Unseld Jr. mentioned. “He will get to a spot and raises up, should you don’t get the ball out of his arms, it’s just about make or miss.”

Outdoors of Durant, the Wizards (11-11) saved practically each different member of the Nets in relative examine. Kyrie Irving was quiet for 3 quarters earlier than heating up within the fourth and ending with 27 factors and 5 assists.

“It’s so arduous to cease both a kind of guys after they get going,” Wizards middle Kristaps Porzingis mentioned. “Tonight was KD’s evening. I imply, he’s one of the best participant on the earth. He’s very arduous to cease, particularly when he’s feeling good.”

Washington was fueled by Porzingis (27 factors, a career-high 19 rebounds), Bradley Beal (25 factors) and Kyle Kuzma (25 factors) — however bought little in the way in which of manufacturing from anybody else.

Porzingis traced his current run of sturdy play to well being.

“My physique’s feeling effectively, that’s one factor,” he mentioned. “And mentally, I’m in a great place and enjoying my sport, being aggressive. Attempting to determine methods how I could be higher for my teammates. What can I do? It’s a good sport immediately, however want we got here out with a win. It will have been a unique feeling proper now. However yeah, myself individually, I like the way in which, I’m enjoying and the way in which I’m shifting, and issues are clicking.”

The Wizards struggled on the free throw line, the place they had been simply 23 for 34.

“They’re free factors, and for the nice shooters we’ve got on this locker room, lacking free throws will get beneath your pores and skin fast,” mentioned ahead Corey Kispert, who had eight factors and went 1 for two from the road. “So simply bought to get extra reps up and deal with the road, and that’s myself included.”

Unseld known as them “missed alternatives.”

“Nobody’s deliberately making an attempt to overlook free throws,” the coach mentioned. “Simply need to have that stage of focus that you’ve got a chance to get some free factors.”

The Wizards additionally struggled from deep. They missed 18 of 24 from past the arc whereas Brooklyn (12-11) shot 42.3 p.c from three-point vary.

The Wizards have dropped 4 of 5.

Right here’s what else to know concerning the Wizards’ loss:

The Nets introduced earlier than the sport that Ben Simmons, the previous No. 1 general choose acquired final season from Philadelphia, would miss at the very least three video games with an higher calf pressure.

“He was grabbing his knee in the course of the [second quarter of Monday’s] sport and mentioned he wanted to return out,” Coach Jacque Vaughn mentioned earlier than the sport. “Ended up being the again of the knee, so it’s the higher a part of the calf, which ended up being the analysis after we took some imagery.”

The three-time all-star can be reevaluated after the three video games.

Wizards guard Delon Wright is touring with the workforce after his harm standing improved final week. He continues to take care of a strained hamstring and has not but returned to contact throughout exercises however is doing particular person on-court actions.

“You will have the chance to proceed along with his revamp,” Unseld mentioned. “He nonetheless will get his therapies. It’s additionally good for him to form of be round as we’ve added various things, completely different layers to our coverages, some schematic tweaks. …

“It is good to have one other vet within the fold. It helps the group. Simply speaking to him, seeing what he sees. Can he add something to what we’re doing, how we’re doing it? However he is a part of us and has been a part of us. So simply to have him round is sweet.”

Unseld was an assistant for 3 seasons on Vaughn’s Orlando workers when he was the Magic coach from 2012 to 2015. Unseld mentioned he was working at a summer season camp as an assistant with the Warriors when Vaughn reached out.

“He is an unbelievable human being,” Vaughn mentioned. “He is finished an important job with that workforce. He’s a man that has finished nearly all the things on this league. Began out as a scout, labored his method up.

“Large work ethic, nice household. Love that he has a chance to teach the Wizards. It brings a smile to my face to see him on the sideline.”