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Washington Wizards: 3 Takeaways From Loss To Mavericks

By Jerran Anderson

Mar 15, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) and guard John Wall (2) on the court against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at Verizon Center. The Dallas Mavericks won 112 - 107. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) and guard John Wall (2) on the court against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at Verizon Center. The Dallas Mavericks won 112 - 107. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 15, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) and guard John Wall (2) on the court against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at Verizon Center. The Dallas Mavericks won 112 – 107. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) and guard John Wall (2) on the court against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at Verizon Center. The Dallas Mavericks won 112 – 107. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

Wizards’ Team Defense Needs to Improve

The Washington Wizards didn’t play a bad game offensively. They were 48.8 percent from the floor with 17 fastbreak points and 50 points combined from John Wall and Bradley Beal.

Granted, offense has saved the day time and again for the Washington Wizards in their past few games. But this loss is a sign that their defense as a team still needs to improve.

The Mavericks shot 50.6 percent from the floor and 43.8 percent from the floor. They shot 17-for-32 from the three-point line as a team.

It is the third time this season the Wizards have allowed 17 three-point makes. They allowed a season-high 19 back on Feb. 6 in their 140-135 loss to the Cavaliers.

Dallas opened the fourth quarter on a 16-7 run jumping out to an 89-87 lead with just over seven minutes left in the game. Once the Mavericks took the lead, they never looked back.

The Mavs made seven of their 17 three pointers in the fourth quarter, a lot of them wide open shots. They also went on a 13-0 run, making three three-pointers, leading by as many as 10 points before the Wizards could respond.

Rookie Nicolas Brussino from Argentina made two of those three-pointers. He finished with 11 points, going 3-for-4 from three-point land in the game off the bench.

Next: Making An MVP Case For The NBA's 4 Leading Candidates

Closing out games is the Wizards current task at hand. They have been outscored 69-51 in their past two games in the fourth quarter. They’ll need to lock up on defense to get back to their winning ways. They face the Chicago Bulls next at home on Friday.

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