Tiktekno: clip summarizing today's events in sports, 7.2/Sport1
It was expected, maybe known in advance, but Washington suffered a fourth loss in a row tonight (between Wednesday and Thursday), after surrendering 114:106 at home to Cleveland, one of the hottest teams in the NBA, and one of the best in the East.
The Wizards put up a fight for three quarters, but Donovan Mitchell stepped up at the right moment, finishing with a game-high 40 points and making sure the red-hot Cubs won their seventh straight and 15th in their last 17 games, cementing them in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 16:33 record.
Washington, on the other hand, dropped to a balance of 41:9.
For Danny Avdia, it was a lukewarm and slightly disappointing evening.
The Israeli forward did start with five points, but settled for 9 points (only the second time in nine games with a single digit number), as he finished with only 3 of 10 from the field, 1 of 3 from outside the arc and 2 of 4 from the penalty box.
Avdia also contributed 8 rebounds, 3 assists and two turnovers, and was limited to only 20 minutes, being sidelined again throughout the last quarter, and not for the first time this season.
This time the bench looks a little puzzling in light of the fact that Jordan Paul suffered a horrible offensive day, didn't score in a game for the first time since joining the Wizards and for the first time since his second season in the NBA, yet received credit and support from coach Brian Keefe in the fourth quarter.
One was mysteriously disqualified in the last quarter, the other decided the game in those minutes.
Avdia guards Donovan Mitchell/Reuters
The Wizards started the game not bad at all, and remained as close as possible in the first two quarters.
Avdia fed Kyle Kuzma, who excelled in the ranks of Washington in the game, for three baskets in the first half, and along with a contribution from Corey Kispert from the bench, the host team went into the break tied.
Washington was not scared by the Cubs' 0:7 run at the beginning of the third quarter and responded with its own 4:12 run, but then the last quarter came, and Donovan Mitchell took over the game.
His 14 points in the fourth quarter swept the Cubs to another run, from which the host no longer had an answer.
Besides Mitchell who added to his 40 points also contributed 8 rebounds and 5 assists, Cleveland also received 22 points and 8 rebounds from Evan Mobley.
Kuzma led the scoring list of the loser with 28 points, Kispert added 23 and 7 rebounds and Tyus Jones 15 and 8 assists.
Washington will play host to the best team in the league with the most homely arena in the NBA, the Boston Celtics, on the night between Friday and Saturday.
More on the same topic:
Washington Wizards
Danny Avdia
Cleveland Cavaliers