The Washington Wizards are battling the Toronto Raptors for the third seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Tuesday’s game in Phoenix starts a season-defining five-game road trip through the West for Washington. It faces a Suns team that has tied a season high with three straight wins. The Wiz will be slight favorites in NBA spreads.
When: Tuesday, March 7, 9 PM ET Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix TV: NBA League Pass Stream: NBA.tv Radio: Washington / Phoenix NBA Odds: Wizards favored by TBA
Bogdanovic is the fifth player in franchise history to hit eight or more 3-pointers in a game. He has fit in nicely since coming over from the Nets, averaging 18.2 points over his past five outings while averaging four 3-pointers per contest. Bogdanovic’s eight 3-pointers tied him with Houston’s Eric Gordon and Cleveland’s Kyle Korver for the most made off the bench in the NBA this season. It also marked a season high for any Wizards player.
Bradley Beal (ankle) finished with 32 points, four assists, three rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot over 41 minutes in the win. Beal left the game briefly after twisting his left ankle, but he was able to return and finish the game. John Wall pitched in with 19 points, 10 assists and six rebounds over 37 minutes. He has a pair of double-doubles in three games in the month of March, and he has 14 double-doubles over his past 16 outings.
Coach Scott Brooks gave his team an earful after giving up 61 first-half points to the Magic.
“I’m not sure I can tell you what I said at the half, but I haven’t said it many times this year,” Brooks said. “Our defense was really good for one possession tonight and that was it. Take away the other 87.”
Brooks relied on Ian Mahinmi for 20 minutes off the bench and sat Marcin Gortat the entire fourth quarter to counter the Magic’s small lineups. The bench did its part in a fourth quarter in which the Wizards made 62% of their shots (13 of 21), 10 assisted, and just one turnover.
The longest road trip of the season begins Tuesday at the Suns, and from there the list of opponents only gets tougher.
Ulis finished with a career-high 20 points on 8-of- 12 shooting, five assists, two rebounds and two steals in 33 minutes. He was phenomenal and he’s trending up in a hurry with Earl Watson eager to find him more minutes.
Bledsoe had 28 points, nine assists, six rebounds and two 3-pointers, going 9-of- 20 from the field and 8-of-8 from the line. Before the game, Thomas said the Celtics “had to try to just slow [the Suns] down… because we know they like to get out in transition.” Phoenix ranks second in the NBA with 19.3 fastbreak points per game, and they wound up scoring 25 fastbreak points vs. Boston’s defense.
Alan Williams notched his third straight double-double on Sunday with 11 points, 15 rebounds, two steals and one block in 31 minutes off the bench. Williams has been a revelation since the All-Star break. Marquese Chriss set a new career-high with five blocks on Sunday, adding 10 points on 5-of- 9 shooting, six rebounds, one steal and one turnover in 25 minutes.
Phoenix improved to 13-9 against the Eastern Conference, 9-4 at home. Phoenix has won a season-best four in a row at home. Ulis did not play in 21 games this season and is now ahead of Brandon Knight as the team’s backup to Bledsoe at point guard.
The Suns have won 13 of their last 19 games against the Wizards including a 10-game winning streak from Jan. 23, 2007-Feb. 20, 2012. However, Washington won the first meeting this season 106-101.
Washington at Phoenix NBA Spread, Betting Lines & TV Info
When: Tuesday, March 7, 9 PM ET Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix TV: NBA League Pass Stream: NBA.tv Radio: Washington / Phoenix NBA Odds: Wizards favored by TBA
Why Bet on Wizards?
Washington avoided a trap game Sunday and beat visiting Orlando 115-114. Bojan Bogdanovic scored 15 of his 27 points and made five of his career-high eight 3-pointers during the fourth quarter, and the Wizards came from 17 down to defeat the Magic. Acquired in a trade with the struggling Brooklyn Nets, Bogdanovic connected on his final 3 to give Washington the lead for good with 48.6 seconds left.Bogdanovic is the fifth player in franchise history to hit eight or more 3-pointers in a game. He has fit in nicely since coming over from the Nets, averaging 18.2 points over his past five outings while averaging four 3-pointers per contest. Bogdanovic’s eight 3-pointers tied him with Houston’s Eric Gordon and Cleveland’s Kyle Korver for the most made off the bench in the NBA this season. It also marked a season high for any Wizards player.
Bradley Beal (ankle) finished with 32 points, four assists, three rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot over 41 minutes in the win. Beal left the game briefly after twisting his left ankle, but he was able to return and finish the game. John Wall pitched in with 19 points, 10 assists and six rebounds over 37 minutes. He has a pair of double-doubles in three games in the month of March, and he has 14 double-doubles over his past 16 outings.
Coach Scott Brooks gave his team an earful after giving up 61 first-half points to the Magic.
“I’m not sure I can tell you what I said at the half, but I haven’t said it many times this year,” Brooks said. “Our defense was really good for one possession tonight and that was it. Take away the other 87.”
Brooks relied on Ian Mahinmi for 20 minutes off the bench and sat Marcin Gortat the entire fourth quarter to counter the Magic’s small lineups. The bench did its part in a fourth quarter in which the Wizards made 62% of their shots (13 of 21), 10 assisted, and just one turnover.
The longest road trip of the season begins Tuesday at the Suns, and from there the list of opponents only gets tougher.
Why Bet on Suns?
Phoenix upset visiting Boston 109-106 on Sunday for its third straight win. Tyler Ulis made a 3-pointer at the buzzer after Isaiah Thomas’ turnover. The Suns’ Eric Bledsoe tied it at 106 with a reverse layup with four seconds to play. Thomas, the league’s No. 2 scorer who had 35 points but missed a free throw with 11.9 seconds left, took the inbounds pass from Jae Crowder and the Suns’ Marquese Chriss knocked the ball away.Ulis finished with a career-high 20 points on 8-of- 12 shooting, five assists, two rebounds and two steals in 33 minutes. He was phenomenal and he’s trending up in a hurry with Earl Watson eager to find him more minutes.
Bledsoe had 28 points, nine assists, six rebounds and two 3-pointers, going 9-of- 20 from the field and 8-of-8 from the line. Before the game, Thomas said the Celtics “had to try to just slow [the Suns] down… because we know they like to get out in transition.” Phoenix ranks second in the NBA with 19.3 fastbreak points per game, and they wound up scoring 25 fastbreak points vs. Boston’s defense.
Alan Williams notched his third straight double-double on Sunday with 11 points, 15 rebounds, two steals and one block in 31 minutes off the bench. Williams has been a revelation since the All-Star break. Marquese Chriss set a new career-high with five blocks on Sunday, adding 10 points on 5-of- 9 shooting, six rebounds, one steal and one turnover in 25 minutes.
Phoenix improved to 13-9 against the Eastern Conference, 9-4 at home. Phoenix has won a season-best four in a row at home. Ulis did not play in 21 games this season and is now ahead of Brandon Knight as the team’s backup to Bledsoe at point guard.
The Suns have won 13 of their last 19 games against the Wizards including a 10-game winning streak from Jan. 23, 2007-Feb. 20, 2012. However, Washington won the first meeting this season 106-101.
