The Washington Wizards beat the Houston Rockets 135-131 in overtime on Monday night. Here are five observations from the game...
Wizards pulled it out: The recipe, so far, is working. After head coach Scott Brooks shuffled his rotation to put Thomas Bryant and Kelly Oubre Jr. into the starting lineup, and Markieff Morris on his bench, the intended results have followed. Bryant and Oubre are breathing life to the starting group and Morris has added steadiness and scoring to the second unit.
With their win over the Rockets on Monday, the Wizards are now 3-1 since Brooks made the switch. Through four games, the players are making their coach look very smart.
This game was headlined by All-Stars John Wall, Bradley Beal and James Harden. But as much as Wall and Beal made the difference in the win, so did Morris who had one of his best games this season with 22 points, 10 rebounds and two steals. It was the second time this year he's reached 20 points and his first double-double.
Though the Rockets were banged up, this was easily one of the Wizards' most impressive wins of the season. It came against one of the league's most talented teams and they had to overcome a 17-point first quarter deficit.
Wall was great: This was Wall's best game of the season. Whether it was the matchup with Harden or not, Wall brought his A-game on both ends of the floor.
He was locked in defensively and on offense zipped accurate passes at angles few NBA players can. He was also smooth in transition, consistently not only getting to the rim, but maintaining ball control to finish.
Wall had 35 points, 11 assists and two blocks. It was a vintage performance from a guy who some believe is on the decline. Wall reminded everyone emphatically what he is capable of. He can be downright impossible to stop and the Rockets had no answer for him.
Harden is a monster: As good as Wall was, Harden was even better. Actually, he was a lot better and that's no slight on Wall. It was just one of those nights where Harden, the reigning MVP, played like an all-time great.
He did what he does best; casually carve up defenses with methodical precision. Harden rained threes and sprayed the lane with perfect lob passes to rim-punishing teammates.
By halftime, Harden had 23 points and eight assists. He scored 21 points in the third and had 44 entering the fourth. With the game staying close and needing overtime, he kept going to put up 54 points on the night to go along with 13 assists. Technically, with 11 turnovers, he had a triple-double.
When Harden gets in the zone he was in, there's not much a defense can do. He can get past anyone, finish through contact and draw fouls with the best of them. And his stepback three is basically un-guardable. That's not to mention his passing vision, which is probably top-five in today's game.
The Wizards played it smart in that they limited others around Harden. Though Eric Gordon popped off for 36 points, no one else truly hurt them.
Wall passed Wes: With a free throw in the second quarter, Wall eclipsed the most decorated player in franchise history on the team's all-time scoring list. Wall moved past Wes Unseld and into third. He now only trails Elvin Hayes and Jeff Malone.
That's some good company to be in and it begs the question of whether Wall will get the top spot. He probably has to play another three to four seasons at a high level to get to No. 1.
Keep in mind that has to happen in Washington. Not that he is going anywhere any time soon, but who knows what the world will be like in four years. Four years from now, we may be riding in flying cars, The Rock will be president and all of us will be employed by Amazon.
No Howard again: The Wizards were missing starting center Dwight Howard for the fourth straight game as he remains sidelined with a strained piriformis muscle.
Brooks said Howard has not been shut down, but Howard also didn't participate in morning shootaround or pregame warmups. He arrived at the arena, got dressed in workout gear in the locker room and left, presumably to go through a training session and treatment somewhere in the building.
At least he was able to do something because it appears he has taken a step back in his recovery, given the Wizards are keeping him off the court.
While Howard was out, the Rockets were missing a key player themselves. Chris Paul didn't play due to a left leg injury. With Carmelo Anthony out due to 'personal reasons,' there were three Olympic gold medalists and future Hall of Famers absent from this one.
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