The Washington Wizards came painfully close to turning a wild night into a win, but the finish belonged to Detroit in a double-overtime thriller. Washington had a seven-point cushion at one point in the first overtime, only to watch the defense crack and Cade Cunningham put together a historic performance that carried the Pistons to the victory.
Even with the loss, this one felt different for Washington. It was their sixth straight defeat, but it also looked like their best game of the season, and they nearly walked out with a win against a very talented Pistons squad.
Alex Sarr was the biggest bright spot. This was easily the best game of his young career, and he opened by making his first 10 shots.
He did miss two clutch three-pointers later, but the overall body of work was still outstanding. Sarr finished with 30 points, nine rebounds, four 3-pointers and 95% true shooting, the most efficient game of his NBA career.
The bigger takeaway with Sarr is how he fits alongside Anthony Davis in the double big lineup. Early in the season, he looked lost. This game showed a version of him that can actually thrive in Washington’s offense next to Davis.
Trae Young also answered the noise. After hearing criticism from fans, he stepped up and nearly stole the game.
Young drilled the shot that forced overtime, then wrapped up the night with 37 points and made half of his long-distance attempts. He also handed out 14 assists against just four turnovers, and while the defense remains a problem, he did show effort.
One of the biggest plays of the night was a charge he took in the fourth quarter that helped swing momentum.
Tre Johnson, on the other hand, had another rough showing after a strong outing against the Pacers. In this overtime loss, he hit just one of nine attempts from deep, and the defense was still shaky.
That raises a real question about his role. If Johnson is struggling offensively, what justifies 30 minutes?
The defense is still poor, and the passing hasn’t been there either. It’s tough to keep playing a shooter who isn’t shooting.
Kyshawn George also landed in the mixed category. He had a solid overall game, but he was part of the reason the contest even needed overtime.
His turnovers and fouls remain the two glaring issues. In this one, his fouls forced him to spend almost the entire fourth quarter with five, which made him play cautiously instead of aggressively.
That affects both ends of the floor and limits what he can do for the team. If George can clean that up, his production could jump to a ridiculous level.
In Other News...
Wizards Fans Had To Love AJ Dybantsas Response To Scary Hit
AJ Dybantsa gave Wizards fans a little bit of everything in a bruising matchup with Detroit, starting with a scary collision with Cade Cunningham that left him visibly bleeding from the mouth. The moment could have easily taken him out of the game, but instead he stayed on the floor and kept competing, the kind of response that tends to resonate in Washington even in a loss.
Dybantsa finished with five points, eight rebounds and four assists as the Wizards pushed the Pistons deep into extra time before Detroit finally pulled away. Cunninghams huge night powered the Pistons, but Washington had to appreciate the way Dybantsa handled the hit and kept playing through it, a tough-minded sequence that fit the tone of a game that never really let up. [Read more 🡒]
Wizards Loss Put Alex Sarrs Role Into Sharper Focus
Alex Sarr gave the Wizards a rare bright spot in a loss to Detroit, turning in one of the more encouraging individual performances of Washingtons season. The rookies scoring burst and work on the glass stood out even as the team kept stumbling, and it added another data point to the idea that his development can still be a meaningful part of the franchises long-term picture.
What made the night more interesting was not just the production, but what it said about how Washington is using him. Sarr has been on the floor plenty, yet his place in the offense has not always matched the value he can bring when he is involved early and often. For a team still searching for traction, giving him a bigger say in how possessions unfold could help answer more than one question at once. [Read more 🡒]
Wizards May Be Reaching A Breaking Point With Deandre Ayton
The Wizards six-game slide has pushed the front office and coaching staff into a difficult spot, and Deandre Ayton is suddenly at the center of it. His role has been shrinking as his production has dipped, and the teams numbers with him on the floor have not helped his case. For a club trying to steady itself after a rough stretch, every rotation decision now feels like a referendum on what still works and what does not.
Brian Keefe has already trimmed Aytons minutes, and the next step could be even more significant if Washington decides it needs a different look in the middle. The Wizards are trying to squeeze more value out of their center minutes as they search for answers, and Aytons place in that equation is far from settled. What happens next will say a lot about how quickly this team is willing to pivot while the losses keep piling up. [Read more 🡒]