The Washington Wizards took another tough loss on the road last night, falling to the San Antonio Spurs, 119-94. It wasn’t just the margin that stung-it was the way it unfolded. There were a few bright spots worth noting, but overall, this was a game where the Wizards simply couldn’t keep pace, especially on the defensive end.
Let’s start with what Washington did right-because there were some encouraging signs, even in a lopsided defeat.
Alex Sarr continues to show flashes of why the Wizards are so high on him. The rookie big man dropped 18 points on 8-of-18 shooting, and while the efficiency wasn’t ideal, the confidence and activity on offense were there. He’s not just floating on the perimeter or disappearing for stretches-he’s involved, and that matters for a young player trying to find his footing in the league.
Bub Carrington chipped in 15 points, giving Washington another solid scoring option in the backcourt. He’s still learning the pace and physicality of the NBA game, but he’s got a smooth handle and a good feel for when to attack. Nights like this are part of the growth curve.
Marvin Bagley III also gave the team a lift off the bench, scoring 13 points on an efficient 5-of-6 shooting. Bagley’s role with this squad is still evolving, but when he’s aggressive and decisive around the rim, he can be a real asset in the second unit.
And to their credit, the Wizards didn’t beat themselves with sloppy ball-handling. Their turnover percentage sat at 12.3%, which is a manageable number. That’s the kind of discipline you want to see, especially from a team still trying to establish consistency.
Defensively, though, the problems were hard to ignore.
The Wizards allowed the Spurs to shoot nearly 49% from the field and 35.7% from beyond the arc. Those aren’t outrageous numbers in today’s NBA, but when you’re struggling to score yourself, they become a lot more painful. San Antonio didn’t exactly put on an offensive clinic, but Washington’s inability to string together stops made it look that way.
One of the biggest defensive lapses came in the form of Dylan Harper, who came off the Spurs’ bench and absolutely torched the Wizards. He poured in 24 points in under 23 minutes, looking every bit like a breakout star. Harper’s a known threat, but Washington gave him far too much room to operate, and he made them pay.
And while it didn’t impact the scoreboard much, it’s worth noting that Washington held Harrison Barnes to zero points and just one rebound in 18 minutes. Barnes started the game but was a non-factor throughout, which speaks to at least one individual matchup the Wizards managed to win.
Still, the big picture remains the same: Washington struggled to generate efficient offense, couldn’t get enough stops, and let the game slip out of reach early. There were moments-some promising individual performances, some stretches of clean execution-but not enough to keep pace with a Spurs team that simply brought more energy and cohesion.
For the Wizards, it’s another reminder of how far they still have to go. The pieces are there, but the execution, especially on defense, has to catch up.