The Washington Wizards are down 0-2 returning to the Verizon Center this Thursday night. Here are three keys to getting a Game 3 victory.
The Washington Wizards entered the fourth quarter of Game 2 with a five-point lead over the Boston Celtics and looked to have things well in-hand. Then Isaiah Thomas happened, helping to send the game to overtime before leading Boston to a 129-119 victory in the extra frame. Thomas scored 29 of the Celtics’ final 45 points to end the game.
The Wizards scored 30 points as a team through the fourth quarter and overtime. They had no answer as Thomas went on to score a playoff career-high 53 points on what would have been his late sister’s 23rd birthday.
The Wizards led the game for much of the second half and were up 81-67 with 7:47 remaining in the third quarter. Point guard John Wall had 40 points, 13 assists, three steals and three blocks, which isn’t bad, but his counterpart Bradley Beal was a relative non-factor for much of the game.
Heading into a must-win Game 3, here are three adjustments the Wizards need to make to stay alive in the Eastern Conference semifinals.