The Washington Wizards got demolished by the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday in a 153-131 contest at Capital One Arena.
The Wizards had some scoring fun in a defense-optional first half. Tristan Vukcevic got hot with 10 early points to pace Washington, but Paul George turned back the clock with 14 of his own as the Sixers took a 35-29 after one.
The Wiz bench mob came out swinging in the second quarter. Jamir Watkins and Jaden Hardy helped key a 16-7 run to open the period, while Anthony Gill caught
fire with 11 points with 3 triples. Washington even held a 58-48 lead before Philly answered back to retake the lead, 73-71, at the break.
Will Riley started the second half with a poster jam on Adem Bona.
Riley’s dunk marked the beginning of the end, as the Sixers ran away with this thing the rest of the way. Philadelphia took a 120-103 lead into the fourth quarter, where nothing even remotely resembling a comeback attempt materialized for Washington in the 22-point defeat.
Gill, fresh off hitting the 1,000-point career mark, had his best scoring game ever. He finished with a career-high 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting with six rebounds and six assists. Riley tallied 18 of his own on an 8-of-12 clip, while Vukcevic and Justin Champagnie each added 17.
Tre Johnson struggled in this one, scoring eight points on 3-of-11 shooting. He also got targeted several times on defense as George and Tyrese Maxey dribbled circles around him.
Johnson and the rest of the crew get a chance to rebound on Saturday in a road game against the Miami Heat.
