Brandon Scott here, the host of the daily Locked On Wizards podcast, with your daily Locked On Wizards newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Wizards and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
The Wizards lose 121-94 in Orlando in the first of a back-to-back.
The Wizards lost to the Orlando Magic 121-94 in O-Town. Jordan Poole led the way with 24 points and Bilal Coulibaly chipped in an additional 20 points. Kyshawn George aka “3Shawn” George wasn’t shabby either with 15 points but it wasn’t enough. The Wizards lost the game in the paint and on the 2nd unit. Things won’t get easier for the Wizards as they head to Houston for the 2nd of a back-to-back. Next is the good, the bad, and the ugly from last night’s game.
The Good
The Dynamic duo of Jordan Poole and Bilal Coulibaly combined for 44 points, continuing to show why both should definitely be in the conversation for Most Improved Player. Keyshawn George also impressed again with 15 points on 4-8 from three-point range and has shown serious Two-Way three and D potential.
The Bad
The bad was their rebounding. They were outrebounded by the Magic 52-47, including 15 offensive rebounds. They also gave up 22 2nd chance points, which is a clear indicator that the Magic’s rebounding enabled them to extend possessions and it killed the Wizards.
The Ugly
The ugly was the bench unit’s overall performance. Corey Kispert continues to struggle, Jonas Valanciunas could only do so much with 8 points and 3 rebounds but the rest of the bench unit was non-existent. You can say that Kyle Kuzma and Malcolm Brogdon being out with injury are definitely having an impact on this team. Next, let’s get into the three keys to victory for tonight’s game vs the Houston Rockets.
Keys to victory- 1. Ball movement 2. Rebounding 3. Ball security
37 points, 18 rebounds, 15 assists. The first NBA player to reach these numbers in a game, and Nikola Jokic did it on a Sunday night in Denver, snowy pockets of flurries settling over the city. I wish I’d been collecting these stat lines all along, or had thought to make a note on the calendar when they happened. I’d like to see if there’s a pattern, though I’ve got a hunch that the dates would come to mean less than what the volume of them proves: in Jokic’s hands, the unprecedented becomes routine.
It starts with his skill, we know this. But let’s zero in on how he carries himself around the floor, how he moves. Jokic lopes, jogs, shuffles, occasionally bops, tends to move laterally more than he does in a direct line. It all serves to create an illusion that he’s slow and behind the pace. It’s why so many have a difficult time categorizing what it is he’s doing — he doesn’t work the way a basketball player does, tends to be the refrain. It’s because he looks, most of the time, relaxed
He can also appear pressed, like there’s someplace else he’d rather be. This is not the kind of approach we like to see from our stars. If they don’t look dialled in, if it doesn’t look strenuous at least some of the time, we tend to distrust their effort and skill. But Jokic’s arduousness is some of my favourite in the league, because it presents at our expense. And indeed, it must be exhausting to prove nearly every night that you can manipulate the game at every level.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Analysis Dive into the statistical breakdown of the Wizards’ performance against the Orlando Magic. Key areas of focus include shooting efficiency and defensive strategies. (Bullets Forever)
Preview The Wizards battle the Rockets at Toyota Center at 8:00 PM EST. Read the preview. (NBA)
Chet Holmgren’s Injury: What It Means for the Thunder and Fantasy Basketball Managers
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) holds his leg after a hard following a play against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter at Paycom Center.|Photo by Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Chet Holmgren’s Injury: What It Means for the Thunder and Fantasy Managers
Sunday’s NBA action took a concerning turn for the Oklahoma City Thunder as Chet Holmgren, their promising young centre, suffered a hip injury just five minutes into the game against the Golden State Warriors. This incident has left both the team and fantasy managers in a state of uncertainty, as Holmgren’s presence on the court has been pivotal.
The Impact of Holmgren’s Injury
Holmgren’s injury occurred during an attempt to contest a dunk, resulting in a hard fall that left him limping off the court. The Thunder have since reported it as a hip injury, but the full extent and severity remain unclear. Given Holmgren’s importance to the Thunder’s lineup, any absence could significantly impact their performance, especially considering their current lack of depth at the centre position.
Potential Replacements and Adjustments
In the wake of Holmgren’s injury, the Thunder may need to rely on a smaller lineup, as they did against the Warriors. This could mean increased minutes for players like Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace, who might see more court time and opportunities to contribute. In deeper leagues, Ousmane Dieng could also be considered for a temporary boost, though none are likely to replicate Holmgren’s production. Fantasy managers might consider these short-term pickups, but it’s crucial to temper expectations, as the Thunder’s rotation could remain fluid.
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