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The Washington Wizards’ most important player from Capital One Arena for Saturday night’s 128-112 win wasn’t even on the pitch. Thomas Bryant was back on the bench after surgery to repair a torn ACL he suffered in early January. His presence was the perfect complement to a Washington team which, since Valentine’s Day, holds the second best record in the NBA (7-1).
The Wizards started the game in great shape, going 5-5 on the field. Moritz Wagner added two threes but was sent off in five minutes after collecting two fouls. Alex Len did well in relief, scoring four points, three rebounds and two blocks. Despite a 9-0 mid-quarter run that gave Wolves a 21-16 lead, Washington kept pace by forcing Minnesota into sticky situations and finishing their free throws. After the first, wizards trailed 29–27.
At the start of the second, Russell Westbrook led the attack with 10 points. Westbrook, who tallied his tenth triple-double of the season, had 13 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. As he has been all season, Garrison Mathews has been the energetic guy on the team, finishing the frame with four points, three rebounds and a series of choppy plays. And with the home team set to close the first half, they turned to their star; Bradley Beal scored nine of his 13 first-half points in the 4:38 final.
Minnesota came out of the break with a two-three shot to regain the lead. Beal, however, had none of it – the number three imposed his will with 10 points, a steal and two assists. A 9–0 run put the Wizards up by five and forced a time out in Minnesota. The stoppage, however, did nothing to slow Beal’s momentum – he still had seven points, one rebound, two assists and drew a charge. Former Gator’s 17 points in the third quarter – 34 on the night – plus Davis Bertans’ four threes – en route to 19 – helped the Wizards take a 98-81 lead in the break.
The start of the fourth provided viewers with astute passes between Westbrook (19 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists), Raul Neto and Mathews (18 points, nine rebounds). Minnesota kept pace with Naz Reid, who had 17 points in 18 minutes on the bench. The only sour note was Neto leaving the game early with what would later be diagnosed as a left knee contusion, further reducing the depth of the Wizards’ guard – Ish Smith came out with a quad injury. Two final three by Anthony Edwards (21 points, six rebounds) made the final few minutes more nervous than they should have been, but the Wizards went about business to win seven of the last eight.
Karl-Anthony Town led the visitors with 23 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.
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