The Washington Wizards were unable to pull off another upset Wednesday, losing 131-110 to the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The game was highly competitive early despite the lopsided final score. Sixers stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey came out firing in the first quarter, combining for 24 points in the opening period to put the Wizards in a 13-point hole.
A balanced offensive attack kept Washington in the game, with eight different players getting on the scoring column. Bilal Coulibaly
led the way early with seven points as the good guys trailed 37-30 to end the first quarter.
Tre Johnson, perhaps feeling like he had something to prove in his match-up against draft classmate VJ Edgecombe, was pressing to start the contest but got into a groove in the second quarter. He keyed an 11-0 run to start the period with buckets from all three levels, showing off his entire offensive bag in the process.
Johnson had 12 points in the quarter, capped off by a triple on Kelly Oubre Jr. in the final minute, which had me flashing back to prime Gilbert Arenas. Wizards trailed 62-56 at the half.
After holding his own in the first half, Alex Sarr had trouble containing Embiid in the third quarter. Embiid had eight points in the opening three minutes to grow Washington’s deficit to double figures. A questionable lineup decision to close out the quarter felt like the beginning of the end.
Brian Keefe trotted out a lineup of AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Justin Champagnie, Anthony Gill, and Marvin Bagley III for the final 3:04 of the third. The unit was held scoreless as the Wizards entered the fourth quarter down 92-80. The Sixers began the final period with an 11-0 run and never looked back.
Tre Johnson had another impressive outing with a team-high 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting to go along with five rebounds and three assists. Sarr finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, and a pair of steals. Bub Carrington and Coulibaly each had 18 in the team’s final game before the Trae Young era.
The Wizards take on Jordan Poole and the New Orleans Pelicans at home on Friday.
