Washington Wizards Selling: Dedication Hats by Danny Avdia/washwizardsil
The Washington Wizards played their first game tonight (between Thursday and Friday) under Brian Keefe, the interim coach who replaced Wes Anseld Jr. who was transferred from his position yesterday.
The coach on the lines did change but the results did not, when Danny Avdia's team lost at home 123:108 to the surprising Utah Jazz.
In Anseld Jr.'s last game yesterday, Avdia set a season high of 24 points against Minnesota, and this time he settled for 13.
The forward played 27 games and added 6 rebounds, 5 assists, a steal and a block.
The host in the capital started the game great, and after a dunk by Avdia Jordan Paul scored a three-pointer that set 4:13.
The Jazz soon became 15:17, and in the first quarter they already led by 13 when they completed the 8:30 run.
The Wizards held on until halftime, and as the third quarter progressed, the visitors opened up a gap.
Jazz star Lauri Markkanen closed the quarter with a 3-pointer that made it 78:98, and although later the Wizards reduced the lead to 12, they didn't really threaten a comeback.
The Finn beat the Israeli.
Avdia and Markkanen/GettyImages, Patrick Smith
Finnish star Lauri Markkanen led Utah with 29 points, as John Collins impressed with a double-double of 22 points and 16 rebounds.
Kyle Kuzma led the Wizards' scorers with 26, but out of the eight threes he took, he made only one.
Jordan Paul added 18 points.
The Wizards, with their sixth loss in a row, dropped to 37:7, and in their next game they will be hosted by the team against whom the negative streak began - Detroit.
Utah took advantage of the visit to the capital to stop a streak of three losses and rise to a 23:23 record, which leaves it in the top ten in the West.
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Danny Avdia
Washington Wizards