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After the "comeback game": Westbrook stings Durant, giving hope to Washington
The Wizards coordinator's improved ability gave cause for optimism and allowed him to close an account with the visitors and his former teammate.
The "frustrated" Abdia remains for shooting practice after the game, and also: Brooklyn's embarrassing defensive numbers and Kyrie's confession - "I can't keep a stick"
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Russell Westbrook
Washington Wizards
Brooklyn Nets
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Monday, 01 February 2021, 10:02
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The turning point of the season?
Westbrook and Bill Celebrate (Photo: GettyImages, Will Newton)
On the face of it, the balance of power between Washington and Brooklyn is clear.
The Wizards started the season with one of the worst balance sheets in the NBA, the Nets are aiming for the championship, but despite the talent gaps and expectations, the team from the capital seemed happy to play against them often.
Tonight (Sunday through Monday) the Wizards recorded their second win of the season over the Nets, this time with a particularly crazy ending.
Less than 10 seconds to go, Brooklyn still led by five points.
A Bradley Bill three-pointer 8 seconds to the buzzer shrank to minus two, and Russell Westbrook completed the turnaround with another three-pointer after a slumpy loss to the Hunts.
In the next offense Brooklyn missed a layup, and Bill closed out interest from the line, setting up a crazy 146: 149 win over Washington.
Most of all, it looks like the game that could be a turning point for Russell Westbrook.
The explosive quarterback who opened the season in poor form and set the lowest averages in his career, mentioned forgetfulness with 41 points, 57 percent from the field, 4 threes at 57 percent, 10 rebounds, 8 assists and dessert, a winning three that completed the mighty turnaround.
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A crazy win for Washington over Brooklyn, Danny Abdia came back and scored 2 points
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"I've heard all those who say I'm done. When I play against Durant, I always have a special motivation," Westbrook said at the conclusion.
"All eyes are on Brooklyn now, so it was the perfect time to make a statement. One thing's for sure - no matter if Durant plays with Kyrie or Steph, I'm still the fucking teammate he has had in his career."
"Russell's passion, it's an amazing thing. No matter what happens, it's never going to get lost," Washington coach Scott Brooks complimented him.
"He's the best rebounder in history among the guards. He always puts a tremendous effort on the floor, leaving everything. I'm glad he was at his best today."
Bradley Bill said "Russ was unbelievable today, on all levels. We needed it, and it was wonderful to see it," and also Grison Matthews who arranged for Westbrook the winning three, Hillel: "As a teenager, I always loved seeing the passion and love he played in it. The competitiveness and the fire that it has, it's one of the most amazing things there is. "
After the win, Washington finally allowed herself to celebrate a bit.
Scott Brooks said that "after this win I drank my first drink this season," and admitted: "I was a partner in some crazy games, and this is one of the craziest of them, if not the best."
Westbrook also said that "it was one of the craziest games of my life."
Whoever enjoys the game a little less is Danny Abdia, who returned to the floor after a three-week absence due to entering the NBA Corona Protocol.
The Israeli rookie started with a five but looked rusty, finishing a lukewarm 16 minutes with 2 points (1 from 4 from the field including 0 from 2 from the three) and 2 rebounds.
One of Washington's letters warned before the game that "Danny shouldn't start in the top five, or play at all" because he has not yet returned to fitness, and in his few minutes on the floor, it is clear that Abdia lacks a certain sharpness, which should return in time.
"It was not Abdia's night defensively. Diandra Jordan blocked him and it took him an eternity to get through the block," the local media in Washington noted.
"It just wasn't his evening. Scott Brooks said he was the only one to play with a minute limit. He may have suffered from Corona's symptoms, and that affected him more than others. He seemed disappointed with himself on the bench, while Grisson Matthews played in the final minutes at his expense."
Long minutes after the game, Abdia was left to work on his shooting with the Wizards' assistant coach.
He will hope to recover for the next game against Portland, on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday.
His problem is that Scott Brooks seems to be giving more and more minutes and credit to Rocky Garrison Matthews, who while not playing the same role as Abdia, takes minutes from him.
"Grison earns the credit I give him," Brooks said.
And while Washington was celebrating, Brooklyn provided another alarming defensive display.
Since James Harden (who did not play tonight due to a minor injury) joined the team, the Nets have absorbed 125 points per game.
Tonight they conceded 149, in a game without overtime.
"Right now, I don't seem to be able to even hold a stick," said Kyrie Irving, who displayed a particularly nervous defensive ability.
And although Kevin Durant insists that "overall this is one of the problems we will fix in the near future", the numbers show that the solution is still far away, illustrating the huge differences between the Nets' impressive attack and the penetration defense: , And given that if preserved, they would become the best attack in history.
On the other hand, they also absorb 119.9 per 100 passers, which works in the same way and vice versa - this places them as the worst defensive team in the NBA, and if it continues, it will make them the worst defensive team in history.
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"We did not lose the game because of the loss of the ball at the end. We absorbed 149 points tonight, and that mistake, is one of 50 other mistakes," said Steve Nash.
"We were not good today on defense, we have problems, and there is no doubt that they need to be fixed."
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