+3
Jordan Crawford leads the Wizards to second road win of the season in exciting, sloppy fashion.
Jordan Crawford has 21 points, none bigger than the pull-up fading jumper he hit over Gordon Hayward to force overtime on Monday night against the Jazz. The Wizards and Utah finished regulation in quite a wacky and sloppy manner tied at 85-85.
John Wall missed all eight of his shot attempts in the second half and did not score.
The Wizards appeared to be cruising to victory in the second half, but went on an extended scoring drought -- netting just one point from the 7:35 mark in the fourth quarter until that final Crawford bucket. The Jazz zone defense befuddled Washington and slowed down Wall significantly.
Once again, the Wizards are still on track to match the 1990-91 Kings, who are the only team to win just one road game in a season.That can all be erased if the Wizards can get back on track against the Kings in overtime.
The Wizards could win this game. Of course, the same could be said at halftime on Sunday night against the Warriors, but Washington is up by a score of 51-43 lead at the break, and John Wall is looking sharp.
Wall has 24 points on an unreal 10-of-11 shooting. He has been unstoppable off the dribble and in transition, and has finished at the rim despite contact and all types of body contortion.
JaVale McGee and Kevin Seraphin are providing good production for the Wizards depleted frontcourt. JaVale has had a nice game as well, he has five points and seven rebounds, playing under control and around the basket, which Flip Saunders praised him for doing after his career night against Golden State. Seraphin has six points, six rebounds and two steals and is +12 in 17 minutes off the bench.
The Wizards defense has also been impressive, holding the Jazz to 38.8 percent from the field, while compiling four steals and five blocks.
Washington is thin tonight and it'll be interesting to see how they hold up down the stretch. But right now this game has the makings of a second road win for the Wizards. (JINX ALERT JINX ALERT JINX ALERT)
This has not been a pleasant road trip for the Wizards, who play vs. the Jazz tonight with one last chance to secure a win on this five-game swing out West. Fortunately, the Washington has been so bad on the road this season that a win against Utah -- itself a loser of five straight games -- would make this a successful trip.
Of course, getting that win won't be easy. Nick Young is back on the shelf, re-joining teammates Andray Blatche, Josh Howard and Rashard Lewis. Michael Lee reports on Twitter that Trevor Booker will try to go tonight, which would give the Wizards another active body to battle the Jazz up front.
Washington will also need a better effort than it got against Golden State from backcourt duo John Wall and Jordan Crawford. Wall had 18 points and Crawford 11, but the pair shot a combined 10 for 37 from the field. They did also combine for 19 assists compared to just six turnovers, so that was helpful.
As will now become customary to mention, the Wizards are still on track to match the 1990-91 Kings, who are the only team to win just one road game in a season. The good news is that this game might somehow be an even more meaningless for Utah, which has had its own terribly bizarre season -- going from contender to turmoil to trading its best player and free-falling out of the playoffs.
There are 10 games left in the NBA season for the Wizards. This is one of them. Let's watch it together, and then talk about it.
For more about the Wizards check out Bullets Forever and learn more about the opposition over at SLC Dunk.
Wizards Vs. Jazz: Jordan Crawford Leads Washington To 100-95 Overtime Win
The Wizards collapsed in the fourth quarter, recovered to force overtime and then regained form to claim a 100-95 win in against the Jazz in Utah. It was either a wildly exciting or an abomination depending on how willing you are to overlook quality of play.
Most importantly, it was the second road win for the Wizards this season. That'll help Washington avoid joining the 1990-91 Kings, who now remain the only team in league history to win just one road game in a season.
Jordan Crawford lifted the Wizards down the stretch, finishing with 25 points. None bigger than the pull-up leaner he hit over Gordon Hayward to send the game to overtime. Washington had looked to be in control as late as the fourth quarter, taking a 82-73 lead on a Crawford jump shot with 7:36 left in the game. Then the wheels came off, and the team managed just one point before Crawford's overtime-forcing jumper.
Here are some thoughts:
> Jordan Crawford was the hero for the Wizards. He also shot 1-for-10 from three. So Wizards.
> John Wall finished with 28 points, seven assists and six rebounds. In the second half and overtime he had just four points and didn't make a field goal.
> Another double-double for JaVale McGee. He still has plenty of work to do, but he has been a bright spot on this Wizards road trip.
> Man, remember Utah Jazz? What happened to those guys ...
Mar 28 11:45p by Michael Katz