By Bijan Todd (@bijan_todd)
The Washington Wizards (11-57) continue their home game Tuesday by facing the Houston Rockets (32-35) for the second clash between the two teams in six days. Here’s everything you need to know:
Where: Capital One Arena (Washington, DC)
When: 7 p.m. ET
Television: Monumental Sports Network
Radio: Team 980 and the Wizards app
Deni Avdija (right knee contusion – absent)
Marvin Bagley III (lumbosacral sprain – absent)
Bilal Coulibaly (fractured right wrist – absent)
Tyus Jones (lumbosacral sprain – absent)
Kyle Kuzma (left shoulder soreness – questionable)
Eugene Omoruyi (sprained right ankle – absent)
Landry Shamet (calf strain – absent)
Isaiah Livers (right hip capsule inflammation – absent)
Cam Whitmore (LCL sprain – out)
Alperen Sengun (sprained right ankle – absent)
Tari Eason (recovering from leg surgery – absent)
Steven Adams (PCL surgical recovery – absent)
The Wizards will face the Rockets for the second time in a week after suffering a 135-119 loss in the Lone Star State last Thursday. Houston guard Jalen Green played a big role in the contest, dropping a season-high 37 points, while fellow guard Fred VanVleet scored 27 points.
With Houston riding a five-game winning streak at Washington, the Wizards will look to get back into the win column behind Jordan Poole’s red-hot play. The Washington guard has posted double-digit performances in 14 of the team’s last 15 games, most recently scoring 31 points in just 23 minutes in Sunday’s loss to Boston.
The name of Tuesday’s game might be three-point defense. Washington was able to force 17 Rockets turnovers, but a 43 percent clip from downtown was enough to earn the home team a victory in their last contest. The Wizards have shot over 40% from deep three times this month and will look to make it four on Tuesday.
Wizards wing Justin Champagnie made his first-ever NBA start on Sunday against Boston – a team he played six total games for last season – and had an admirable performance.
The 22-year-old scored 14 points in 36 minutes, grabbed eight rebounds and shot 46 percent from the field in the 130-104 loss. Additionally, he was tasked with guarding Celtics wing Jayson Tatum, his former teammate, for the majority of his minutes.
“I always was [a fierce competitor] since I was a child, since what, eight years maybe? Champagnie said after the Celtics game. “I always thought I had something to prove. I was always doubted, excluded, whatever it was. For me, when I have the opportunity to go there, I will show every time that I know I have my place.
With all the injuries Washington is dealing with on Tuesday, it’s possible that Champagnie figures prominently in the Wizards’ rotation again.
OPPORTUNITY FOR ROTATIONAL PLAYERS
Due to the injury issue that has hampered many Wizards starters, several rotation players got serious minutes Sunday against Boston. Justin Champagnie, Jules Bernard, Eugene Omoruyi, Johnny Davis, Jared Butler and Anthony Gill all played more than 15 minutes in the contest.
This may be another chance for Washington’s bench unit to showcase their skills during invaluable playing time.
“The good part was we showed resilience in the second half. A lot of guys who had to play long minutes due to certain circumstances played as hard as they could and we ended up winning the second half,” the official said. coach Brian Keefe said after the game Sunday.
With only 14 games left this season, there’s a chance Wizards fans will get to see more of the deeper parts of the roster in the future. Ten of Washington’s final 14 games will be played at Capital One Arena.
