The Washington Wizards ran into a buzzsaw Tuesday night in Philadelphia, falling 121-102 to a Sixers squad that caught fire from deep and capitalized on nearly every mistake Washington made.
Let’s start with the three-point line - because that’s where this game started to slip away. The Wizards just couldn’t find their range, going 9-of-36 from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, the Sixers lit it up, knocking down 17-of-40 from three. That’s a 24-point swing from long range alone, and in a game that ended in a 19-point loss, that tells you just about everything you need to know.
But the issues didn’t stop there. Washington also struggled with ball security, coughing it up 15 times - and Philadelphia made them pay, turning those giveaways into 28 points.
On the flip side, the Wizards only managed 9 points off the Sixers’ 11 turnovers. That kind of disparity in transition and opportunistic scoring is the kind of thing that turns a competitive game into a runaway.
Tyrese Maxey was the engine for Philly once again, pouring in 35 points on 13-of-26 shooting. He was aggressive, efficient, and in total control. Whether he was pulling up from midrange or attacking the rim, the Wizards never really had an answer for him.
To Washington’s credit, they did get balanced scoring. Seven players hit double figures, with Justin Champagnie, Marvin Bagley, and Will Riley each putting up 13 points.
But while the bench production was steady, the Wizards lacked a go-to scorer who could match Maxey’s shot-for-shot brilliance. That kind of firepower matters - especially when you’re trying to keep pace with a team that’s shooting the lights out.
The Wizards will look to regroup quickly, with the Boston Celtics coming to town on Thursday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
ET, and it’s another tough test against one of the East’s elite. If Washington wants to bounce back, they’ll need to tighten up their perimeter defense, clean up the turnovers, and rediscover their shooting touch - fast.