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[Washington Wizards]

The Numbers Crunch: Wizards fall to New York Knicks despite 42-13 second half run

Washington Wizards guard Marcus Smart dominated off the bench in the team’s loss to the New York Knicks. | Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Stats, commentary, analysis

Well that was weird. The Wizards traveled north to face the New York Knicks on the second night of a back-to-back, and for the first 28 minutes took exactly the sort of kick-in-the-teeth beating to be expected when the league’s worst team takes on one of the best.

In the first half, Washington managed just 41 points and trailed by 25. New York opened the third quarter with a burst, ran their lead to 33 and seemed on their way to the kind of massive win that gets all five starters an opportunity to rest the entire fourth quarter.

And then...Washington went on an epic 42-13 run to slash New York’s lead to just four. And suddenly it looked like an actual game.

Then, just as quickly, the magic ended. Marcus Smart, Richaun Holmes, and the bench mob that powered the comeback ran out of gas, the starters rotated back onto the floor, and the Knicks pulled away to finish of a comfortable 122-103 win.

Bright Spots for the Wizards?​

• For 24 minutes, Marcus Smart was The Man — 17 points, 4-7 from three, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a block. Somehow, the Wizards were “only” +3 during his minutes — the way he controlled the action, it felt like it should’ve been a lot more.
• Colby Jones made the most of his 12 minutes, hitting all three of his field goal attempts, and producing 4 rebounds, 2 assist, and 2 steals.
• Kyshawn George had nice counting stats (if we ignore the shooting and turnovers) — 15 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals. I don’t think he played badly, but it’s fair to describe his performance as sloppy and uneven — 4 turnovers, 4 fouls, 5-13 from the floor, and 1-4 from deep. He had little success defending OG Anunoby or Mikal Bridges.
• After a string of DNP-CDs, Richaun Holmes emerged from the mothballs for another physical, high-energy performance. He finished with 4 points and 7 rebounds in 17 minutes. The Wizards were +8 when he was on the floor. Only Jones had a better +/- (+12).
• With the loss, the Wizards maintain a half-game lead over the Utah Jazz for NBA’s worst record this season. This does not affect their chances of landing the number one overall pick in the draft, but finishing last would give them the best worst-case scenario.
• Bright spot for me: what a treat it was to hear a game called by Knicks broadcasters Mike Breen and Walt Frazier. Two of the absolute best in the business.

Four Factors​

Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).

The four factors are measured by:

• eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
• OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
• TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
• FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)

In the table below are the four factors using the percentages and rates traditionally presented. There’s also a column showing league average in each of the categories to give a sense of each team’s performance relative to the rest of the league this season.

Stats & Metrics​

Below are a few performance metrics. PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).

PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.

POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.

ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average last season was 114.8. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.

USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%.

ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.

+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 114, the league — on average — would produced 22.8 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -2.8.

Players are sorted by total production in the game.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025...new-york-knicks-despite-42-13-second-half-run

 

[Washington Wizards]

2025 NBA Draft: Cooper Flagg looks the part of a #1 overall pick in Raleigh, Tyrese Proctor moves up draft boards

Cooper Flagg after dunking in the First Round | Photo by Lance King/Getty Images

The Duke prospects shined the brightest in the Raleigh First and Second Round games

Raleigh, NC - The Duke NBA Draft prospects continued to impress in another NCAA Tournament win, this time an 89-66 win over Baylor. Freshman forward Cooper Flagg continued to demonstrate why he’s the consensus number one overall pick in this June’s NBA Draft. He recorded 18 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 block.

Junior guard Tyrese Proctor was both very efficient and very impressive, putting the game completely out of reach with three consecutive three-points with about five minutes remaining in the game. If Duke wins the title this year, I think their fans will fondly remember this as “The Tyrese Proctor game.”

Proctor made 9-10 shots from the field and 7 of his 8 three-point attempts. He finished with 25 points, 2 assists, and 1 rebound. Freshman wing Kon Knueppel added 12 points, 3 assists, and 1 rebound. Freshman center Khaman Maluach had 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks.

Baylor’s 6’3 freshman guard VJ Edgecombe did his best to keep his team competitive but Duke was able to limit his production somewhat by forcing him into taking too many long jumpers rather thang getting to the rim. He started the game 0-3 from the three-point line before finally hitting his first attempt 3 minutes into the second half. Edgecombe finished with 16 points (6-12 field goals), 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal.

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
VJ Edgecombe attempts to drive against Duke

In the earlier game today, Florida prevailed over Connecticut, 77-75. UConn’s freshman wing Liam McNeeley racked up 22 points but he did so on 6-16 shooting from the field and 2-8 from three. He also chipped in 3 assists and 2 rebounds. This was still a substantial improvement from their opening round win where McNeeley had 8 points on 2-13 shooting from the field and 1-8 from three.

Florida’s guards may all find themselves on NBA rosters at some point and did most of the damage for the Gators today. Will Clayton had 23 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist. Alijah Martin provided 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. Will Richard added 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jeremiah Fears attacking the basket in an opening round loss to Connecticut

One of the best performances of the weekend came in Oklahoma’s First Round loss to UConn. Freshman guard Jeremiah Fears had 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. He wasn’t particularly efficient, going 5-14 from the field, but he was almost impossible to keep out of the lane and seemed like the only Sooner who had a chance of making a play down the stretch.

Fears is largely an apathetic defender, giving perhaps the least effort on that end of the floor of anyone I’ve seen in person this season, but he is a fearless offensive player. Considering Fears is a reclassified freshman and should still be in high school, it’s impressive he’s been as productive as he has this year. He averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.6 steals.

Somewhere in the back half of the lottery, he’s someone I’d be willing to take a chance on and assume I can expect more defensive effort from him as he matures. At about 6’3, I’m not sure how much sense he’d make for the Wizards given last year’s selection of Bub Carrington and how much they’d have to move up to select Fears.

Fear is currently at #10 on Rookie Scale’s Consensus Big Board, which is too low to reasonably take with the Wizards’ first pick and means he’s likely to be gone before they pick again. But it’s never too early to start a file on a player you may want to consider down the line for things like free agency so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring him for an interview and a workout this cycle.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025...ach-vj-edgecombe-jeremiah-fears-liam-mcneeley

 

[Washington Wizards]

Preview: Wizards face Raptors on Monday

Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images

Washington looks to win on an early spring night.

The Washington Wizards play the Toronto Raptors on Monday night. Here is the preview.

Game Info​

When: Monday, March 24 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Capital One Arena, Washington

How to watch: Monumental Sports Network

Injury Report​

Wizards: Bilal Coulibaly, Corey Kispert, Malcolm Brogdon, Saddiq Bey are out.

Raptors: Chris Boucher, Brandon Ingram, Jakob Poeltl, Immanuel Quickley, Grady Dick, Ulrich Chomche are out.

Pregame notes​

The Wizards are coming to this game after losing four games in a row, three of which were on the road. And the Raptors have been in “tank mode” as well on a four game losing streaks of their own. One of these streaks will come into an end. Hopefully, it’s the Wizards’.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025...gton-wizards-toronto-raptors-nba-game-preview

 

[Washington Wizards]

Wizards vs. Raptors game information and discussion

Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images

Washington is home tonight.

The Washington Wizards play the Toronto Raptors at 7 p.m. ET. Watch it on Monumental Sports Network, or with us below.

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LIVE STREAM​

During the game, watch our Playback.TV stream which will start at around 6:45 p.m. ET.

Wizards are back on the road trying to pick up a win over the #3 seeded New York Knicks

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025/3/24/24393249/wizards-vs-raptors-game-information-and-discussion

 

[Washington Wizards]

The Numbers Crunch: Wizards cling to last with loss to Raptors

Washington Wizards guard AJ Johnson | Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images

Stats, commentary, analysis

Last night’s contest between the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors pitted two of the NBA’s worst offensive teams against each other, and it showed. A fast pace (107 possessions each) inflated the total to 216 points — two teams playing a game at that pace and average NBA efficiency would have scored 245.

Was it ugly? Well, the Wizards shot just 29.7% from three-point range...and the Raptors somehow shot even a little worse (27.8%). Both teams also shot below 50% on twos.

No, the poor shooting was not because of stellar defense. Both teams had plenty of open looks. They just missed. A lot.

Toronto won because they grabbed offensive boards (the Wizards did not) and avoided turnovers (the Wizards did not).

Bright side: Another loss is exactly what Washington needed as they cling to a slender lead over the Utah Jazz for worst record. The Wizards are 15-56 — Utah is 16-56.

Wizards head coach Brian Keefe seems to understand the job. To start the fourth quarter, Keefe had a lineup of Colby Jones (age 22), AJ Johnson (20), Tristan Vukcevic (22), JT Thor (22), and Marcus Smart (31). Just two minutes in, he subbed out Smart for Bub Carrington (19). His only other lineup change: Alex Sarr (19) for Thor.

Yes, Washington’s lineup over the final seven minutes of the game had an average age of 20.4 years old. This is good.

Bright Spots for the Wizards​

• Secured the loss and maintained that lead on the Jazz.
• Closed the game with an ultra-young lineup.
• AJ Johnson was good — 17 points on 9 shots, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, just 1 turnover in 28 minutes. He had a couple more lob finishes and continues to make exciting plays with eye-popping athleticism. He was also the only Wizards player with more than two minutes of playing time and an above average offensive rating.
• Jordan Poole shot well — 8-13 from the floor and 5-9 from three en route to 23 points in 22 minutes. You may wonder how a guy with 80.8% eFG% and a usage rate of 33.3% can finish with an offensive rating of just 114. Answer: five turnovers in 22 minutes. That’s a 31.0% turnover rate.
• Alex Sarr had three blocks in an otherwise thoroughly forgettable game.
• JT Thor had a terrific dunk in transition.

One piece of bad news: rookie Kyshawn George landed on Jakob Poeltl’s foot while leaping for a rebound and turned his ankle just two minutes into the game. He did not return.

Four Factors​

Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).

The four factors are measured by:

• eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
• OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
• TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
• FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)

In the table below are the four factors using the percentages and rates traditionally presented. There’s also a column showing league average in each of the categories to give a sense of each team’s performance relative to the rest of the league this season.

Stats & Metrics​

Below are a few performance metrics. PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).

PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.

POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.

ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average last season was 114.8. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.

USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%.

ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.

+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 114, the league — on average — would produced 22.8 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -2.8.

Players are sorted by total production in the game.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025...ards-toronto-raptors-nba-statistical-analysis

 

[Washington Wizards]

Preview: Wizards face injury-riddled 76ers in Philly

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

The Wizards maintain the worst record in the NBA by a half-game.

The Washington Wizards are playing the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. I’ve got you covered with the preview ahead of the matchup.

Game info​

When: 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Mar. 26

Where: Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

How to watch: Monumental Sports Network

Injury report​

Wizards: Kyshawn George (ankle) is considered DAY-TO-DAY. Saddiq Bey (knee), Malcolm Brogdon (ankle), Corey Kispert (thumb), and Bilal Coulibaly (hamstring) are all listed as OUT.

76ers: Pretty much everyone you’ve heard of is listed as OUT.

Game notes and more​

• The Wizards and 76ers have two of the easiest remaining schedules across the NBA, a fact which could jeopardize both teams’ lottery chances unless they keep dropping games.
• As a result, we’ve got another Wizards tankathon game on our hands. After dropping one to the Toronto Raptors last night, can Washington keep up the negative momentum and stay in pole position for the best lottery odds?
• ESPN’s matchup predictor gives the Wizards a 64.1% chance to win this one, given Philly’s extensive injury report.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025...n-wizards-philadelphia-76ers-nba-game-preview

 

[Washington Wizards]

Mystics projected to pick Iriafen, Citron, Sellers in ESPN mock draft

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Dominique Malonga is projected to go No. 5 to the Golden State Valkyries. And we all know Paige Bueckers and Olivia Miles are No. 1 and No. 2.

According to ESPN’s latest 2025 WNBA mock draft by Michael Voepel, the Washington Mystics are projected to select USC forward Kiki Iriafen No. 3 overall, Notre Dame guard Sonia Citron No. 4 overall, and Shyanne Sellers No. 6 overall.

Iriafen emerged as one of the most dominant post players in the country and would be the top big in the draft after the mock projection of Connecticut guard Paige Bueckers going No. 1 overall and Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles at No. 2. Iriafen’s combination of physicality, rebounding, and improved scoring makes her an ideal fit for a Mystics frontcourt that has lacked consistent interior production.

Citron, assuming she comes to the Mystics at No. 4 adds defensive instincts, versatility, and reliable shooting, Citron could complement Brittney Sykes on the wing and provide immediate minutes in the rotation. Her ability to play off the ball while still creating for others makes her a valuable asset in any system.

Sellers comes from Maryland, which is less than a half hour drive from CareFirst Arena. She is a tall guard and would be the latest in a long line of Maryland alumnae who have played for Washington.

I stand by my feeling that the Mystics that I don’t see them standing pat in the 2025 WNBA Draft and feel that they will make a considerable move around draft day. The only trade they made so far involved trading Ariel Atkins to the Chicago Sky for the No. 3 pick.

And don’t get your hopes up about what Voepel had to say about Bueckers. But here’s he wrote about her specifically:

There has been plenty of chatter in the hoops world that Bueckers might not want to play in Dallas. She hasn’t commented on the topic. But as it stands, Bueckers is the clear top pick. Even though she has one season of eligibility remaining, Bueckers has made it clear she won’t return to UConn. She is averaging 18.7 points and shooting 41.6% from behind the arc.

Take it at face value. Anyway, let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/myst...ia-citron-and-shyanne-sellers-espn-mock-draft

 

[Washington Wizards]

Wizards at 76ers final score: Washington escapes Philly with 119-114 win

Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Win number 16 in the books.

The Washington Wizards were out-tanked by the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday in a 119-114 contest at Wells Fargo Center.

The Wizards got off to a blistering start, shooting over 70% in the first quarter for 45 points. The team hit nine threes, six coming from Alex Sarr and Justin Champagnie. Sarr put up a full-game stat line in the opening frame with 13 points, four rebounds, and two blocks.

Washington’s shooting came back down to earth in the second and third quarters as the Sixers tried to whittle away at the lead. The Wizards still entered the fourth quarter with a 99-85 advantage and looked like they would coast to a victory.

The 76ers made things interesting late, bringing some of their veterans back in to mount a comeback attempt. Old friend Jared Butler hit a three for Philly to cut Washington’s lead to six with 1:12 left. But Sarr killed the Sixers’ chances with a dagger drive into the paint with 18 seconds left.

20-piece for the rook

24 PTS 7 REB pic.twitter.com/n9MgetQj2K

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) March 27, 2025​

Sarr led all scorers with 24 points, four triples, and seven rebounds on an efficient 10/17 shooting clip. Champagnie and Jordan Poole each had 18, while Tristan Vukcevic added 17 points and two blocks off the bench.

AJ Johnson had a rough shooting night, but still gave Wizards fans some sick highlights.

ROOK ROCKIN' THE RIM pic.twitter.com/ZpU4X0HMpg

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) March 26, 2025​

The Wizards head home the next day to host the Indiana Pacers.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025...ton-wizards-philadelphia-76ers-nba-game-recap

 

[Washington Wizards]

Marco’s WNBA Draft guide: Paige Bueckers scouting report

Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images

The Mystics have the third, fourth and sixth overall picks in the WNBA Draft, so I’ll be profiling some of the top prospects. First up: “Paige Buckets.”

The 2025 WNBA Draft is coming up, so I’ll be taking a closer look at the draft prospects the Washington Mystics could select at No. 3, No. 4, or No. 6. First up is Connecticut Huskies guard Paige Bueckers.

Paige Bueckers profile​

• College: Connecticut
• Position: Point Guard
• Height: 5’11
• Where she is likely to be drafted: No. 1 overall to the Dallas Wings.
• Likelihood that the Mystics will draft her: Don’t get your hopes up about selecting her unless they trade up to No. 1. More on that below.

What the Mystics (or really, the Wings), can expect from her​

Writing a scouting report about Bueckers is rather like writing a review of the album “London Calling” by the Clash. What new praise could I possibly heap upon something so unanimously considered one of the greatest ever?

Bueckers is one of the most automatic and efficient scorers in the history of college basketball. As a true freshman she posted 20.0 points and 5.8 assists per game on splits of… get ready for this… 52.4% from the field, 46.4% from deep and 86.9% from the free throw line. That year she won the Associated Press Player of the Year award, one of only twelve non-seniors to win the award since its introduction in 1995. She is still the only freshman to have done so.

Bueckers is as pro-ready as they come. In fact, she could have been drafted as high as number two overall last year. She ended up returning to UConn for one last ride (though she retains a year of eligibility) and has since become the consensus top prospect for the upcoming WNBA Draft.

Bueckers’ game is devoid of weaknesses. For one, she is one of the greatest three-level scorers in college basketball history. For her career Bueckers shoots 53.3% from the field, 42.1% from three and 85.1% from the line, splits indicative of a future Hall of Famer. You don’t just happen across the nickname “Paige Buckets.”

Processing the game is another key strength. Bueckers consistently draws extra defensive attention and makes the right reads, and her career average of 4.6 assists per game stacks up against just 1.7 turnovers per game.

Bueckers’ playmaking ability is accented by her positional size advantage. At right around six feet even, Bueckers can match up against forwards with relative comfort and has even spent some time playing the power forward position. She is quick and large enough to overwhelm opposing guards on drives to the rim and is an immaculate finisher under pressure.

Bueckers’ combination of court vision, handle and positional size makes her an incredibly versatile player and allows her to play with a sense of freedom characteristic of players like Breanna Stewart. Some of that versatility will be tempered at the WNBA level, but her massive sample size of all-time great shooting ability will translate seamlessly to the pros.

Bueckers is a generational talent with one glaring concern: injuries. Her sophomore season was dramatically upended by both a tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus tear, limiting her to just 17 games. A subsequent torn ACL that offseason cost Bueckers her entire junior year.

Professional athletes with extensive pre-draft injury concerns tend to slide down draft boards. For example, Joel Embiid fell to the Philadelphia 76ers at pick number three in the 2014 NBA Draft, while Michael Porter Jr. slipped from potentially being the first overall pick in 2018 all the way down to pick number 14.

Such might have been the case had Bueckers not returned from back-to-back injury-riddled seasons playing like a woman possessed. This year she posted a career-high of 21.9 points per game and led the Big East with a 60.0% effective field goal percentage, an absurd level of efficiency for a guard. Her overall shooting splits also earned her membership into the 50/40/90 club for the first time.

Bueckers landing with the Washington Mystics is well into “Hail Mary” territory at this point. Rumors circulated last fall that she may be unwilling to play for the Dallas Wings, who own the first overall pick, though Bueckers herself has never addressed the rumors and they appear to be little more than baseless speculation. That said, Bueckers has been seen at numerous Mystics games throughout her college years and has family in the Washington area — which is likely a major reason why this speculation has persisted.

Given that Bueckers is the best prospect since… well, Caitlin Clark last year, but you get the point… she will be the first pick in the draft and is exceedingly likely to evade the Mystics.

The WNBA Draft will take place on April 14. The Mystics own both the third and fourth picks as the result of a trade, so over the coming weeks I will be profiling some more of the prospects in the Mystics’ orbit.

For an even more in-depth look at Bueckers, check out this video from Hunter Cruse that outlines the intricacies of her game far better than I could ever hope to.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/myst...outing-report-marco-gacina-washington-mystics

 

[Washington Wizards]

Recap: Wizards suffer historic loss to Indiana Pacers

Tyrese Haliburton led the Indiana Pacers to a historic win over the Washington Wizards. | Photo by Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images

Recap, stats, analysis, commentary

The Washington Wizards got mauled by the Indiana Pacers, suffering a historic 162-109 beating on the second night of a back-to-back for both teams.

Last night, the Wizards scored 45 points in the first quarter and hung on to beat the Philadelphia 76ers. Tonight, they allowed 45 first-quarter points to the Pacers and then proceeded to allow 38 in the second, 42 in the third, and 37 in the fourth.

It was the worst defensive performance in franchise history. Here are a few of the new “records”:

• Most points allowed: 162 — surpassing the 159 scored by the Houston Rockets on Oct. 30, 2019.
• Worst defensive rating: 165.6 — previous worst was 153.6 in a March 31, 2008 loss to the Utah Jazz.
• Most opponent made threes: 27 — the record was 26 by the Houston Rockets on Dec. 19, 2018. The Pacers also set a new franchise record for made threes. Their previous high was 23.
• The 53-point final margin was the largest defeat in franchise history. Their largest previous defeat was by 52 to the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 10, 1971.
• Most opponent assists: 48 — The previous record was 46 by the Milwaukee Bucks on April 20, 1988.
• Highest opponent eFG%: 78.8% — The previous record was 74.2% by the Boston Celtics on April 3, 2022.

Frightening thought: the Pacers did not try to score on their final three possessions.

Bright Spots for the Wizards?​

• Umm...they had five players on the floor for all 48 minutes?
• Hmm...Justin Champagnie scored 15 points on 9 shots.
• Colby Jones showed some skills and athleticism (as well as inexperience). He knocked down a couple threes, and had 3 steals.
• Jordan Poole wasn’t bad — 18 points on 13 shots, as well as 3 assists and 2 steals. He hit 4-8 from three.
• Alex Sarr had some nice offensive moments against Myles Turner.

Fun Stuff in this Game​

• Tyrese Haliburton snapped a string of 12 consecutive games with double-digit points and assists. He TORCHED the Wizards with 29 points on 15 shots in just 25 minutes. He also had 6 assists and just one turnover. By the way, his PPA for the season entering the game was 220.
• T.J. McConnell had 10 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists in 17 minutes.
• Former Wizards great Quenton Jackson posted 7 assists and 3 steals in 9 (garbage time) minutes.
• Former Wizards great Thomas Bryant had 12 points on 4-5 shooting and 7 rebounds in 13 minutes.
• The Pacers tallied 48 assists with no one on the roster producing more than 8.
• The Wizards were -28 in 15 minutes with Tristan Vukcevic on the floor.

Four Factors​

Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).

The four factors are measured by:

• eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
• OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
• TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
• FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)

In the table below are the four factors using the percentages and rates traditionally presented. There’s also a column showing league average in each of the categories to give a sense of each team’s performance relative to the rest of the league this season.

Stats & Metrics​

Below are a few performance metrics. PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).

PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.

POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.

ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average last season was 114.8. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.

USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%.

ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.

+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 114, the league — on average — would produced 22.8 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -2.8.

Players are sorted by total production in the game.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025...izards-suffer-historic-loss-to-indiana-pacers

 

[Washington Wizards]

NBA Draft 2025: Recapping last night’s Sweet 16 games & prospects

Photo by Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

How did players like Cooper Flagg do and which teams advanced to the Elite Eight?

The 2025 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament continued yesterday with four Sweet 16 matchups. Here are some quick recap of the games of the teams that advanced the Elite Eight plus stat lines for players who can reasonably be expected to be the top 10 of the 2025 NBA Draft.

Duke 100, Arizona 93​

Duke held off Arizona in a high-scoring battle where both teams pushed the tempo and shot well. Duke leaned on their superstar freshman, while Arizona struggled to contain him despite a big night from their veteran guards.

Possible Top-10 Prospects:

• Cooper Flagg (Duke) — Consensus #1 pick, Flagg delivered a signature performance with 30 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks, taking over down the stretch and showing elite two-way impact.

Kon Knueppel (Duke) — Also a projected lottery pick. He scored 20 points in 34 minutes last night.

Alabama 113, BYU 88​

Alabama unleashed a historic offensive onslaught, hitting 25 threes and overwhelming BYU. The Crimson Tide’s spacing and shooting gave NBA scouts plenty to think about.

Possible Top-10 Prospects:

• Egor Demin (BYU) — Scored 15 points, 7 assists, 2 rebounds yesterday. He is also projected to go in the Top 10 per NBADraft.net

Florida 87, Maryland 71​

Florida methodically pulled away in the second half after a tight first period, fueled by their dynamic freshman guard and depth. Maryland couldn’t keep pace late despite a scrappy effort.

Possible Top-10 Prospects:

• Derik Queen (Maryland) — Queen is not projected to be quite in the Top 10, but he’s close enough. He scored 27 points and grabbed 5 rebounds last night.

Texas Tech 85, Arkansas 83 (OT)​

Texas Tech erased a 16-point second-half deficit and outlasted Arkansas in overtime. Their star forward made timely plays on both ends to fuel the comeback.

Possible Top-10 Prospects:

• JT Toppin (Texas Tech) — Toppin is also not quite a consensus Top 10 pick. But he scored 20 poitns and grabbed 9 rebounds last night.
• Boogie Fland (Arkansas) — Played just nine minutes yesterday, but he suffered a hand injury. He is also not quite a consensus Top 10 pick.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025...rnament-sweet-16-cooper-flagg-duke-texas-tech

 

[Washington Wizards]

Preview: Wizards host Nets on Saturday night

Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

After a history making loss, the Wizards will try to get back on the right track tomorrow night.

The Washington Wizards host the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night. Here is the preview for this game.

Game Info​

When: Saturday, Mar 29 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC

How to watch: LeaguePass, Monumental Sports Network

How to listen: The Team 980 AM, 106.7-2 FM.

Injury Report​

Wizards: Saddiq Bey, Malcolm Brogdon, Kyshawn George, Corey Kispert, Bilal Coulibaly are out. Marcus Smart, Kris Middleton and Anthony Gill are day-to-day.

Nets: Cam Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe are out. Noah Clowney and Trenton Watford are day-to-day.

Pregame notes​

Yesterday, the Wizards had a historic loss to the Indiana Pacers. They lost 162-109 and were just pitiful. That said, the Wizards have won 16 games so far this season and have room to spare. They have actually done BETTER THIS SEASON than in 2023-24 when they finished 15-67. So, there’s a silver lining.

The Nets are coming off a 116-86 loss to the Toronto Raptors last Wednesday and have lost five in a row. Let’s see what happens in a match between two low ranking teams in the NBA standings.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025/3/28/24396165/washington-wizards-brooklyn-nets-nba-game-preview

 

[Washington Wizards]

NBA Draft 2025: Recapping the rest of the NCAA men’s sweet 16 teams

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

There isn’t as much … top of the draft talent so to speak. But it’s always worth keeping an eye on how things are going.

March 28, 2025 — Sweet 16 Recap with NBA Draft Top-10 Candidates (per NBADraft.net, updated)

The second half of the 2025 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament’s regional semifinals (Sweet 16) has completed. Let’s take a look at which teams will advance to the Elite Eight on Sunday.

Michigan State 73, Mississippi 70​

Michigan State edged Ole Miss in a gritty game, advancing to the Elite Eight behind clutch shooting and defense. Jase Richardson of Michigan State is currently projected mid-first round at No. 15 per on NBADraft.net where he scored 20 points for the Spartans.

Tennessee 78, Kentucky 65​

Tennessee finally broke through against Kentucky after two previous losses this season, dominating the second half. Chaz Lanier of Tennessee is a projected late first-round, at No. 20 on NBADraft.net. Not a realistic top-10, but an experienced senior drawing NBA attention.

Auburn 78, Michigan 65​

Auburn rallied from down nine to dispatch Michigan behind standout guard play, led by two freshmen. Tahaad Pettiford of Auburn is projected to be No. 26 on NBADraft.net. He had a 20-point performance in the Sweet 16. That said,

Houston 62, Purdue 60​

Houston won a defensive slugfest on a last-second layup by Milos Uzan, sending Purdue home in heartbreaking fashion.

NCAA men’s Elite Eight games today​

• No. 1 Florida vs. No. 3 Texas Tech, 6 p.m. ET on TBS/TruTV
• No. 1 Duke vs. No. 2 Alabama, approximately 8:30 p.m. ET on TBS/TruTV

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025...chigan-state-auburn-tennessee-jase-richardson

 

[Washington Wizards]

Recap: Wizards fall to Nets 115-112

Brooklyn used a strong second half to top Washington

The Washington Wizards lost to the Brooklyn Nets 115-112 on Saturday despite a late-game comeback led by AJ Johnson.

Washington started the first quarter with more defensive intensity after allowing a franchise-record 162 points to Indiana the last time out. Alex Sarr paced the Wizards with eight point and three blocks as they took a 28-23 lead into the second frame.

Brian Keefe’s squad continued to attack the rim, shooting 23 first-half free throws and making 20 of them to grow a 17-point lead before a Brooklyn 3-point barrage cut the lead to just eight at halftime.

Washington opted to play its end-of-the-bench guys for most of the second half. Colby Jones enjoyed an efficient night, scoring 20 points on 7-11 FG. The Wizards led 85-82 entering the final quarter.

Johnson, who’d be struggling all night, came alive in the 4th quarter, scoring 14 of his 20 points to bring the Wizards back late. Johnson drove baseline and slammed home an emphatic dunk before sinking the go-ahead 3-pointer with 23 seconds remaining.

Drew Timme stepped up late and sunk a layup to give Brooklyn a one-point lead, and Washington couldn’t convert late as it lost a close contest at home, 115-112.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025/3/29/24396917/washington-wizards-brooklyn-nets-nba-game-recap

 

[Washington Wizards]

NBA Draft 2025: Duke and Florida make the NCAA Division I men’s Final Four

Photo by Lance King/Getty Images

The top projected players in the 2025 NBA Draft like Cooper Flagg are extending their college seasons by another week.

The first half of the 2025 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament’s Elite Eight is done. Let’s see how those games went.

Florida 84, Texas Tech 79​

Florida stormed back from a double-digit deficit late to earn its first Final Four appearance since 2014. Walter Clayton Jr. was the hero, scoring 30 points — 22 of them coming in the second half — as he took over the game down the stretch. Texas Tech’s Jalen Bridges, a projected late first-round pick, finished with 18 points but could not close the game as Florida’s defense tightened.

Duke 85, Alabama 65​

Duke controlled the game from start to finish, powered by two likely top-10 picks. Kon Knueppel scored 21 points, showing off his polished scoring and shooting touch, solidifying himself as a top-7 prospect. Cooper Flagg added 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks, continuing to build his case as the potential No. 1 overall pick with a dominant two-way performance. Alabama’s Khaman Maluach, another projected lottery pick, struggled all night and was limited to 8 points.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2025...-duke-florida-ncaa-mens-basketball-final-four