Wizards 17-32 vs Magic 17-33
When: Wednesday, April 7th, at 7p.m.
Where: Amway Center, Orlando, FL
TV: NBCSWA, NBA League Pass / Radio: WFED 1500 AM
Injury
Wizards: Thomas Bryant (Out/ Left ACL Surgery), Brad Beal (Day to Day/ Hip), Daniel Gafford (Out/ Right Ankle Sprain), Rui Hachimura (Day to Day/ Shoulder), Robin Lopez (Day to Day/ Quad)
Magic: Cole Anthony (Day to Day/ Rib), Khem Birch (Day to Day/ Illness), Michael Carter-Williams (Day to Day/ Illness), Markelle Fultz (Out for the season/ Knee), Gary Harris (Out/ Thigh), Jonathan Isaac (Out for season/ Knee), Karim Mane (Out/ Hamstring), Otto Porter Jr (Out/ Foot)
Wizards -
113.2 - points per game
120.2 - points against
46.3 - Field Goal %
Magic -
104.3 - points per game
111.3 - points against
43.0 - Field Goal %
Keep an eye on:
Rebounding: is an area Washington is ok in and an area Orlando exceeds in. Washington comes in ranking 15th in the league in rebounding at 44.2 per game, while, Orlando comes in 5th in the NBA, grabbing a little over 46 boards a game. Over the last ten games, the Magic, led by Wendell Carters 9.4 rebounds, is averaging 43.8 rebounds a game. With Daniel Gafford out and Rui Hachimura along with Robin Lopez possibly not being available tonight, the Wizards will need to crash the boards relentlessly to make up the difference. We know we don't have to worry about Westbrook making an impact on the boards, however, the next best rebounder available to play if Hachimura and Lopez are out, is rookie Deni Avdija, who averages five a game. Clearly, that won't be good enough to be in a position to win. For Washington to earn a win tonight, everyone will have to put their hard hat on and get physical inside to have a chance at victory.
Compete/ Close The Game: In Monday's loss to Toronto, Washington was the better team by far, leading the Raptors 86-75 after three. It appeared Washington had things under control if they maintained the execution on both ends of the floor they displayed through the first 36 minutes of the game. That didn't happen. Washington turned the ball over four times, shot 4-22, not scoring a field goal over a seven minute span in the fourth quarter. From the 9:08 mark to the 1:58 mark in the fourth, Washington didn't make a field goal. Lastly, Toronto out-scored Washington 28-15 in the fourth quarter which included Gary Trent Jr's game winning triple. With all that went wrong in the final period for Washington, it still took a last minute three to lose the game. The Wizards have to fight for 48 minutes and execute better in money time...the fourth quarter or the losses will just continue to pile up. It's not rocket science. It's a matter of want to and only the players can decide that.