Washington and Danny Abdia frantically. Abdia provided tonight (Monday through Tuesday) one of his best NBA games, if not the best of them all, as he greatly helped the Wizards record a huge comeback en route to a fifth straight win, 100: 105 over New Orleans. Abdia celebrated his first double-double of the season, finishing in 28 minutes with 11 points (5 of 6 from the field), 10 rebounds, two steals, assists, a block and most importantly – Sally Clutch and great work on defense in the closing minutes that ensured a 3:10 balance.
Abdia has once again proved that when he is on the floor – the leader of the East is simply a better team. The forward, who leads his team this season in the index and defensive index, finished with the highest plus-minus index in the game (18+) for the second time in a row when this time – he was an integral part of a great thriller. The team from the US capital was already 19 points behind, and Abdia was the one who completed the turnaround in the last quarter with a ‘layup’ that shook the Capital One Arena. While he stood out as every night on the defensive side, Abdia then added another crucial basket on offense and symbolically took the final rebound in the game that guaranteed him the double-double.
Wes Ansald Jr.’s trainees have shown what they are made of and how deep they are this year, and not for the first time. Bradley Bill was absent for the second time in a row after his grandmother’s death, and his friends showed him that he could be calm, because there was someone to go into battle with. Spencer Dinwidi (29 points and 9 assists), Cantavius Caldwell Pop (18) Monterz Harrell (15) stood out and lowered the Pelicans to a 13: 2 balance in the depths of the West. Brandon Ingram, on the other hand, finished with 31, Jonas Valencia 16 and Josh Hart 13 and 12 rebounds.
Last five final score graphics we’ve tweeted:
WIN. WIN. WIN. WIN. WIN.#DCAboveAll | @Ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/RiNozIFTfm
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) November 16, 2021
Abdia first stepped onto the floor in the middle of the first quarter, as in every Washington game, and was immediately given the challenging task of sticking with Brandon Ingram on the defensive side. The Israeli put his first points on the board in a burst after a delivery from Arun Holiday, and during the first of the second quarter when the scoreboard showed 25:25, added “And One” with an uncharacteristic move of a round in the “Post” and a left-hand finish in front of Thomas Storansky.
The forward went down to the bench about nine minutes into the second quarter as the Wizards led 28:31, and from that point on – the Pelicans went for a 10:30 run that gave them a 41:58 lead at the break (Washington’s worst offensive half of the season). Jackson Hayes scored five straight and Devonta Graham sniped two threes before the half.
Spencer Dinwiddy started the second half excellently, with eight points in two and a half minutes that forced Willie Green to take a quick timeout. Dinvidi continued to juggle and with a 3:17 run under his leadership the difference dropped to five, 66:61 about seven minutes to the end of the third quarter. Here too – Green called a timeout, after which Abdia returned to the field.
Abdia missed his third shot when he failed to translate a free-kick from outside the arc into points, but scored the fourth with a basket penetration on Jonas and Lancunas. The Israeli provided some big moves in defense at the start of the fourth quarter, including a block on Josh Hart, and a three by Cantavius Caldwell Pop shrank to 83:82. Whoever completed the turnaround was none other than Abdia, who with a layup set up 92:94 three minutes and 42 seconds to go (Washington’s first advantage since the start of the second quarter). Harle increased the lead from the line and KCP netted a three that sealed a 0:14 run en route to a 92: 101 lead.
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