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After two straight losses since returning from the All-Star break, Washington returned to winning ways tonight (Tuesday-Wednesday) after achieving an important 116:119 on the road over faltering Atlanta, in the debut of Kevin Snyder on the lines of the Hawks.
The Wizards, who improved their record to 29 wins against 32 losses, establish themselves in the tenth leading place for the play-in, with a one and a half game advantage over Chicago and only one game behind Toronto, which they will meet twice in the coming week.
The hero of the victory was undoubtedly Bradley Beal.
The star of the Wizards has recently been removing some rust after a few less good months before the All-Star break, and is getting into excellent shape.
Tonight he set a season high with 37 points, and did so with impressive efficiency (17 of 30 from the field) and when he also handed out 7 assists compared to only two turnovers.
He and Kyle Kuzma (28 points) covered the deficit of the injured Kristaps Porzingis, and each of them signed decisive moves on both sides of the court in the last minute.
Danny Avdia, who started in the starting five once again in the absence of Porzingis, suffered from a very lukewarm offensive day, but found other ways to contribute to the team.
He finished 31 minutes with just 4 points (second straight game with single-digit points, was 2-for-9 from the field including 0-1 from three), but also helped fill the rebounding vacuum, pulling down 13 rebounds.
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Earned the minutes even on a lukewarm day.
Avdia (Photo: Reuters)
Avdia opened the game with a bang with no less than 8 rebounds in the first quarter, equaling his career high in one quarter, and helped the Wizards stay close.
Trae Young warmed up to give the Hawks a halftime lead and extend the lead to double digits in the third quarter, but the final quarter was all Washington's.
Bill took control of the attack and led a turnover, and his big basket with half a minute to go established a 4 lead for the Wizards.
Young responded with a 3-pointer on the other end, but Beal made another big basket to set up a 3-point lead, and Young missed two shots from beyond the arc on the final drive that could have sent the game into overtime, after earlier being blocked twice by Kuzma and Daniel Gafford.
Besides Bill who set a season high with 37 points and Kuzma who scored 28, Gafford also reached double figures and finished with 13 points along with 12 rebounds and 3 blocks.
The Hawks, who dropped to a 31:31 balance and were stopped after two consecutive victories, were led by Trey Young with 31 and 7 assists.
Bogdan Bogdanovich added 16 off the bench.
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Not for such a debut he filled.
Kevin Snyder (Photo: GettyImages, Alex Slitz)
Now the Wizards will return home, and will host Toronto on the night between Thursday and Friday for another important game in the play-in and playoff battles.
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Washington Wizards
Danny Avdia
Atlanta Hawks