Wizards vs. 76ers final score: Washington overcomes slow start, cruises to 109-93 victory over Philadelphia

Wizards vs. 76ers final score: Washington overcomes slow start, cruises to 109-93 victory over Philadelphia

Wizards vs. 76ers final score: Washington overcomes slow start, cruises to 109-93 victory over Philadelphia
NBA

Wizards vs. 76ers final score: Washington overcomes slow start, cruises to 109-93 victory over Philadelphia

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All five Washington starters scored in double figures as the Wizards overcame an early 13-point deficit to blow out the 76ers, 109-93. John Wall, band pinkie and all, led the way for the Wizards with 25 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds. Bradley Beal scored 20 points (18 in the first half) as the Wizards won their 11th straight game at Verizon Center to go back over .500 with a record of 20-19.

The Wizards came into Saturday night’s game with two days of rest while the Sixers were coming off a game the night before against Charlotte. However, if you watched the first quarter, you would have had no idea. The Wizards showed next to no life in the opening period as Jahlil Okafor and Ersan Ilyasova torched the Wizards for 18 points in the period, forcing Washington to dig themselves out of yet another, early double-digit hole.

The second quarter was a different story. After shooting just 31 percent in the first quarter, Washington finally started to get their shots to fall as they ended the half on a 24-11 run that tied things up at halftime.

The third quarter proved to be even better. The Wizards raced out on a 7-0 run in the blink of an eye. John Wall was 3-4 from three-point range in the period with the only miss coming on a heat check that was blocked. After missing most of the first half due to foul trouble, Gortat made his mark on the game as he dunked over former Wizards Killer Gerald Henderson.

The Wizards would outscore the Sixers 30-15 in the period, with the lead ballooning to 17 at one point, as the Wizards held a comfortable 86-71 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Kelly Oubre must have had a lot of pent up anger after reading all of the Bullets Forever “Wizards Killers” posts as he posterized Gerald Henderson to start the fourth quarter.

The starters would rest for the majority of the fourth quarter as the bench would carry the Wizards to a comfortable, 109-93 victory.

John Wall had a great game, bad hand and all. Pinkie swear.

Like the rest of the squad, Wall got off to a slow start tonight connecting on just one of his first five shots. Wall was playing with an injured hand/pinkie tonight and you could tell by his first shot; a brick from the elbow. After that slow start, rather than settling for jumpers, Wall attacked the lane with all of his made field goals in the first half (5) coming in the paint.

Wall caught fire from three-point range connecting on three of four from deep in the third quarter and 11 points in the period.

Jahlil Okafor was a handful tonight

Okafor received extended minutes tonight as Joel Embiid sat out of tonight’s contest and he was a load in the paint. Okafor was the aggressor going right at Gortat forcing him into two quick fouls. Jason Smith came in for Gortat but he picked up two personal fouls quickly as well. The second-year player did most of his damage in the paint en route to 26 points tonight (16 in the first half).

It was just one of those nights

John Wall was swag surfing after a slew of threes. Gerald Henderson found himself on the wrong side of two posters. Jason Smith threw up the three goggles after hitting a three-pointer. Yeah, it was one of those games.