The Washington Wizards endured a rough back-to-back at home, falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks on February 7 and 8. Despite standout performances from Jordan Poole and rookie Bub Carrington, Washington’s defensive struggles continued to haunt them.
On the other hand, Wizards fans got their first look at AJ Johnson, the team’s new rookie guard acquired alongside Khris Middleton in the Wizards trade with the Bucks.
Poole’s Career Night Not Enough Against Cavaliers
Jordan Poole had his best game in a Wizards uniform, exploding for a career-high 45 points in Friday’s 134-124 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. His offensive fireworks kept Washington in the game, but Cleveland’s balanced attack ultimately proved too much.
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 33 points, while Evan Mobley controlled the interior with 27 points. Despite some flashes of offensive chemistry, Washington’s defense allowed Cleveland to shoot over 50% from the field, a trend that has plagued them all season.
The game also marked AJ Johnson’s first minutes in a Wizards uniform. The young guard saw limited action, logging over eight minutes off the bench, but showed glimpses of his speed and athleticism.
Hawks’ Offense Overwhelms Washington in Second Half
On Saturday, the Wizards returned to action against the Atlanta Hawks but couldn’t keep pace with Trae Young’s offensive clinic. Young racked up 35 points and 14 assists, leading Atlanta to a 125-111 victory.
Bub Carrington continued to impress in his rookie season, posting 23 points, while Poole followed up his big night with 21 points. However, Washington’s second-half struggles resurfaced, as Atlanta pulled away late.
Looking Ahead
With these two losses, the Wizards dropped to 9-43 on the season. The team will look to regroup when they host the San Antonio Spurs on February 10 at Capital One Arena. With young players like Carrington continuing to develop, the focus remains on growth rather than wins, but Washington will need to find a way to tighten up defensively to stay competitive moving forward.
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