Wizards Report November 22

Posted on November 22, 2012

Upon further review, the Washington Wizards are still looking for their first win of the season. The Atlanta Hawks survived a game   with twenty   lead changes   and a video review   to defeat the Wizards 101-100 in overtime. With 7.3 seconds left in overtime Kevin Seraphin hit a 15-foot jumper to give the Wizards   100-98 lead, only to have Kyle Korver work off   a screen and nail a three-pointer with 1.9 seconds left.   After a time out, Seraphin missed a 14-foot jump-hook that was caught by Martlell Webster and then put back for what the Wizards thought was the game-winning basket. Webster's score   was ruled to be after the time expired. The dramatic moments: Seraphin basket and then Korver game-winner: LISTEN: OT1F-SERAPHIN HOOP AND KORVER 3---100-101 The Wizards chance with 1.9 seconds left: LISTEN: finalplay The loss spoiled Nene's season debut: LISTEN: 1H-NENE 1ST HOOP OF YR----17-23 Nene's return: Nene returned to the Wizards lineup last night   and scored 12 points in almost twenty minutes of action. Nene did not play in overtime as the Wizards chose to exercise caution in his first game back from plantar fasciitis. In recent days Nene had been working out more in practice, but his status was in doubt up until game time last night. After participating in Wednesday's shootaround , Nene tested his ailing foot in pre-game warmups and then told head coach Randy Wittman he was ready to go.   Nene also helped the Wizards make 17of 24 free throws.   Nene was 8 of 10 from the free throw line. Defense: In just his first game back Nene helped   the Wizards in so many ways, but he was part of a stifling defensive unit that included Martell Webster, Emeka Okafor, Trevor Ariza, and A.J. Price.    Ariza had three steals and Webster two steals.   The aforementioned group helped the Wizards stay in   the game after falling behind by 11 points in the third quarter. Missed opportunities: To be sure it is frustrating to think about how close Martell Webster was to delivering the Wizards a dramatic win, but   the last second effort could have been avoided. The Wizards dominated the Hawks on the boards 58-37, but missed critical rebounds late on missed free throws by Al Horford.   The Wizards also built a 98-94 lead on the Hawks in overtime, but then failed to capitalize on three opportunities to extend that lead. New look: The Wizards went small with a starting five of Shaun Livingston, Jordan Crawford, Bradley Beal, Jan Vesely, and Kevin Seraphin.     Of the starters   Seraphin stood out   with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots, but struggled at times on defense. The bench provided the real spark.   Along with Nene's 12 points, A.J. Price had 14 points and 7 assists.   Trevor Ariza had 12 points and 15 rebounds.   Martell Webster, who almost had the game-winner, had 10 points and 7 rebounds. Competitive: The Wizards are the 13th team in NBA history to start a season 0-10, but they have been the most competitive. The Wizards have lost their ten games   by an average of seven points, which is the lowest among the other teams that also went 0-10 to start the season.