NBA News Wire
Wizards 111, 76ers 76
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
WASHINGTON — Center Marcin Gortat scored 20 points and guard John Wall had 11 points and 10 assists as the Washington Wizards dominated the Philadelphia 76ers for a 111-76 victory on Monday afternoon.
The Wizards (29-13) ended any pretense of a competitive game early and produced their largest margin of victory of the season. They outscored the overmatched 76ers 27-14 in the first quarter and led 55-32 at halftime.
Seven players scored in double figures: Center Kevin Seraphin scored 14 points, forward Nene had 12 and guard Bradley Beal was one of three players with 10.
Forward Henry Sims scored 13 points and forward Jerami Grant had 12 for Philadelphia (8-33), which fell to 5-17 on the road this season.
Philadelphia’s starting backcourt of Michael Carter-Williams and K.J. McDaniels combined to shoot 4 of 22 (18.2 percent).
The Wizards entered the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday matchup coming off their largest home loss of the season — 102-80 against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday. The Wizards responded with a 99-90 road victory over the Nets on Saturday and got back on the winning track at home on Monday.
Philadelphia infamously started the season with losses in its first 17 games, but the Sixers were 3-3 over the previous six games before facing Washington. The 76ers reverted to that earlier form, shooting 29.5 percent in the first half and 33 percent overall.
The Wizards sank 59 percent of their attempts before halftime. Their lead never dropped below 16 points in the second half.
Philadelphia pulled within 71-55 in the third quarter, but the Wizards responded with a 14-0 run.
The Wizards lead the Eastern Conference with 18 home wins and improved to 24-1 when holding opponents under 100 points.
Gortat scored 10 points before halftime in the first of four meetings against the 76ers this season. Washington took command with a 26-4 first-half run. Wall scored or assisted on five straight baskets in that stretch.
Nene sank his first 3-pointer of the season early in the third quarter, improving to 4 of 35 (11.4 percent) all-time from beyond the arc.
NOTES: 76ers F Luc Mbah a Moute sat out with a left knee contusion and G Tony Wroten missed his fourth straight game with a right knee sprain. Coach Brett Brown anticipates a more specific medical update on Wroten over the next 24 hours. Asked if the injury to Philadelphia’s leading scorer could be more serious, Brown said it “might be.” … Washington won last season’s series 3-1 over Philadelphia. … The 76ers host the New York Knicks on Wednesday in a matchup of the two worst records in the Eastern Conference. … Washington next plays Wednesday when F Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder visit. Durant, a D.C. area native, is thought to be a target of the Wizards when the 2014 NBA MVP enters free agency in 2016.
