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Danny Avdia's rise in the fourth quarter tonight (between Friday and Saturday) was a central part of Washington's 100:112 victory over Charlotte.
The Israeli, who had 5 points until the last seconds of the third quarter, scored 11 in the last 12 minutes and finished with 18 that helped the Wizards end the streak of 16 losses, the longest in the team's history, with one more tonight would have set a new negative record for the club.
On a night when the Wizards suffered from shocking three-point percentages (18%), Avdia wisely chose to physically penetrate the paint again and again in the fourth quarter, in which he "reminded people that this season he has become a serious threat in the rim area," as written by The Washington Post.
The Israeli went inside with force and also had one three-pointer during the excellent personal momentum in Money Time, which helped Washington record its best quarter of the season: 44 points she scored in the last quarter, in which she turned a 10-point deficit into a 12-point victory.
showed up when they needed him.
Avdia/GettyImages, Patrick Smith
"It's great to see the development of Danny Abadia! He is much more confident in his game and right now he is shining on the way to the Wizards' lead," complimented "Sports Illustrated" reporter Carita Parks during the game.
About this confidence, which allowed him to change a lukewarm evening to excel in the important moments, Avdia spoke at length at the press conference.
"Honestly, I wasn't there mentally in the first half. Even until the third quarter. Something was off, I was emotional, a little frustrated. But I picked myself up. It's part of my growth, of my process," explained the forward.
"I kicked everything aside, I said 'it's time to win the game' and I think I helped as much as I could. I've had moments like that in the past, I would have taken myself out of the game. I probably would have finished with those 7 points I had, I wasn't focused on defense. In my opinion it's Good progress, I'm glad I recognize it because usually I don't. The ability to excel and be focused for the team is a big step."
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And not only Avdia overcame the moments of difficulty, but Washington as a whole.
A 15-point lead in the first half turned into a double-digit deficit, and the Wizards saw how another collapse was about to turn into a loss that would set a new negative record in the club's history.
"I think the pride had an effect," said the Israeli about the mental change.
"We lost so many games in a row, we were trying to get out of the hole and this was our chance. We knew this was the opportunity. We have tough games coming up and this game was close, and I think everyone said 'OK, enough'."
The Wizards' previous win was on January 29.
A month before, they won at home for the last time - until tonight.
"It's a good feeling. We've been through a lot this year, I can't describe what it's like to lose so many games. I've never experienced this in my life, this is the first season it's happened to me. It's definitely not fun," Avdia continued at the press conference.
"You can take the positive out of it, like the progress, the learning. It allows you to make mistakes and learn from them, but it's really not fun. I think we showed character today. At a certain point in the game, I felt that we were falling apart again, that we were loosening the rope a bit. And something changed."
Avdia also added 14 rebounds that sealed a great double-double for him, finishing as the second best scorer on the team after Kyle Kuzma who scored 28 points.
Jordan Paul, Rishon Holmes and Corey Kispert, who played the entire last quarter together with the Israeli, also scored in double figures.
"It was a collective effort. It was us, we were aggressive, we looked for free shots and shared the ball. But we did it defensively, I think that was the most important thing to get the victory," added Avdia, who recorded a fourth double-double in the last seven games.
"We try to be the best so that the team wins. Whatever the team needs from me, I will do."
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