The theater was much more organized than the basketball in the Wizards’ 135-119 loss.
Washington and Houston traded blows in a game largely devoid of defense. In the second quarter, the Wizards’ offense slowed down enough to allow the Rockets to pull away for good.
“We just let the guys drive to the rim. No help on board. We didn’t do our best tonight [rotating]“, Kyle Kuzma said. “They got in transition, they got in the paint and we suffered from it.”
The Rockets attacked the Wizards, without centers Marvin Bagley III (back) and Richaun Holmes (toe), in the paint and outscored them 42-25 in the second quarter. Washington’s faulty defense stalled its offense, allowing Houston to seize momentum. The Rockets never gave up on him.
It was a steep fall for the Wizards (11-55) after stringing together victories against Charlotte And Miami last week.
“I don’t think our team has taken a step back. I think we’re in a process of learning and getting to know our team,” said interim coach Brian Keefe. “I liked our fight tonight. We have shown good examples in the last five games of our ability to play high-level defense. . . . Tonight we didn’t take the physical initiative to stop the ball and assist, something we’ll address and look at, but every game we have to grow.
The Rockets (31-35), battling to advance to the West play-in tournament, were brimming with confidence throughout, especially once the second quarter began, and parlayed all that confidence into their night of most efficient shots of the season. season. They shot 59.3 percent from the field and were led by the red-hot Jalen Green, who shredded the Wizards’ defense for 37 points on 15-of-23 shooting, including 5-of-9 from three.
Veteran point guard Fred VanVleet added 27 points, and with six players in double figures, the Rockets had more than enough firepower to overcome 19 turnovers.
“We’re lacking every time we don’t have five players, someone who can set screens, someone who can get boards,” Jordan Poole said. “. . . Every time we play small ball, we stay on the perimeter a little bit, and then it’s easy for teams like the Rockets, who have length, good defenders, to go from one to five and pack the paint a little.
Poole led the Wizards with 25 points coming off the bench. Deni Avdija added 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting, evidence of an aggressive night in the paint.
Kuzma had 23 points as the de facto center in the Wizards’ small-ball lineup, and all five starters plus Poole were in double figures.
Still, it wasn’t enough to overcome the second quarter. It might have required a little magic – or better defense.
Here’s what else you need to know about the Wizards’ loss:
Avdija heads to the locker room
With just over three minutes left, Avdija slipped awkwardly and fell to the ground with the ball in his hands, only to get back up and catch it just above his right knee in obvious discomfort. He limped and skipped straight to the locker room after the Wizards quickly called a timeout.
He returned to the bench alone shortly after before returning to the locker room.
The Wizards signed 7-foot center Tristan Vukcevic on Thursday to a deal that will keep him with the team at least through the 2024-25 season.
Although Vukcevic spent this season with Serbian club KK Partizan Belgrade, the 21-year-old was Washington’s second-round pick in last year’s draft with the 42nd pick. He was already familiar with the team after spending summer league with the Wizards, during which he averaged 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds in four games.
Keefe said he looked forward to seeing Vukcevic involved in Washington’s development agenda.
“A big, versatile, skilled guy on the perimeter,” Keefe said. “[He] can play around the edge to give us some size and length at the edge.
Vukcevic is averaging 7.7 points and shooting 54 percent from the field and 43.2 percent from beyond the three-point arc in 30 games in the Adriatic League.
Corey Kispert came back down to earth on offense after two impressive games to start the Wizards’ journey. Keefe has started at third-year guard in all three games on the trip so far, with Washington playing a small-ball lineup due to injuries, and the change has suited Kispert well.
He scored 22 points against Miami and Memphis, shooting 53.3 percent against the Heat and 66.7 percent against the Grizzlies.
He scored 11 points on 4-for-9 shooting against Houston, but he had some standout defensive moments, including an athletic chase block against Jabari Smith Jr.
