Danny Avdia played his 200th game in the NBA tonight (between Wednesday and Thursday) and provided a weak performance in Washington’s 122:120 home loss to Atlanta. Avdia played 23 minutes and finished with only 2 points (1-for-6 from the field, 0-for-3 from three), 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 turnovers (including a fateful one in the clutch) and a plus-minus index of -14, the lowest in the match.
Avdia’s only basket came with 3:19 left in the first quarter when he sank a layup, but since then he has missed all five of his shots – including several free throws from beyond the arc. In the last seven games he is averaging just over 6 points, when he scored in double figures only once (17 against Milwaukee).
Avdia appeared to have done his part at the start of the last quarter, but with 52.1 seconds left and the scoreboard reading 117:115 to the Hawks, he returned to the floor. Trae Young lost to Bradley Beal and in the midst of a clumsy outburst the Israeli had a golden opportunity to equalize after an offensive rebound, but carelessly lost the ball under the basket and Deandra Hunter closed the matter from the line. Hunter was also the one to break a tie with a big “and one” 67 seconds to go. In the middle of the third quarter, by the way, the host was already leading by 15.
Kristaps Porzingis did everything he could, with a career-high 43 points (17-for-22 from the field, 7-for-10 from three, 2-for-3 from the line) along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists, but even that wasn’t enough for the Wizards who suffered a loss Third in four games and dropped to a balance of 35:31. Kyle Kuzma had 25 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists, while Beal finished with 24 points and 8 assists.
The Hawks, who went up 33:33, were led by Young with 28 points (11 of 14 from the field) and 10 assists, with Dejonta Murray having 17 (only 5 of 16 from the field) and Hunter adding 15. The two teams will meet again on the same floor between friday and saturday.
back in action on Friday.#DCAboveAll | @Ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/YRUyiL1HPb
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) March 9, 2023