The NBA In-Season is officially underway! While some may still be trying to figure out the format of the tournament, the Wizards and Heat are trying to find a way to win this basketball game.
Both teams are in need of a win sitting at 1-4 on the season thus far.
An hour before tip-off the Wizards announced that Corey Kispert was officially out with an ankle injury. Kispert sustained an ankle sprain against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.
Here are some positives from the first half:
Delon Wright showing his veteran defensive skillset. Wright is the only player with less than five turnovers so far. Defense is an area the Wizards have consistently struggled in throughout the season and so far this season.
So far this season, Kyle Kuzma has struggled from three-point range but he hit two from the range in the first quarter to keep the Wizards in the game.
Rookie Bilal Coulibaly remains consistent with showing flashes of his defensive abilities as well.
The Wizards shot 56% in the first half.
There are three Wizards in double figures: Kyle Kuzma (11), Jordan Poole (10), and Deni Avdija (10)
The not so positives:
Despite the defensive efforts of Delon Wright, Bilal Coulibaly, and others, the Miami Heat continued to make a run at the scoreboard. The Heat shot 60% in the first half.
Both Wizards and Heat Centers Daniel Gafford and Bam Adebayo found themselves in foul trouble mid-way through the first quarter.
Washington had six turnovers in the first quarter. The Wizards would finish the half with 11 turnovers.
At the end of the first quarter, the Wizards and Heat were tied at 34. The Heat are starting to slowly slip away and led at the half 60-54.
Miami currently has a scoring average of 105 on the season so the high scoring in the first half may not be a good sign.
We did see a flopping penalty in the first half which was interesting.
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