Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) drives around Paschoalotto Bauru forward Jefferson William (11) in the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Washington. The Wizards won 134-100. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The Washington Wizards didn’t exert much energy in their 134-100 preseason home win over Brazilian basketball club Bauru but they did manage to put on a show in their last preseason home game. The NBA regular season doesn’t start for the Wizards until Oct. 28, but they used an exhibition game against a Brazilian club to fine tune their offense. Seven players scored in double-figures including 19 points from Marcin Gortat and 17 points from Bradley Beal. Washington will end the preseason on the road so fans received one last chance for an affordable opportunity to see what’s in store for the season
Three games into the preseason, Washington is 2-1 and the offense looks diverse with no serious defense being played. All eyes, however, have been on Otto Porter’s development, and he produced
Washington Wizards forward Otto Porter Jr. (22) dunks the ball in front of Paschoalotto Bauru forwards Wesley Sena (12) and Robert Day (31) in the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Washington. The Wizards won 134-100. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
another solid performance on the way to starting at the small forward spot this season. Porter added 12 points and three rebounds in 22 minutes, making the most of his time with precision shooting and solid defense. Porter also added in two assists, flashing the heady play he was known for at Georgetown. The Porter project is coming along nicely, and it’s only a matter of time before he begins to make consistent contributions for the team.
John Wall and Bradley Beal played with fluidity and comfort as they controlled the game with veteran influence. Wall finished with seven points and nine assists, adding to another solid string of performances so far in the preseason. It’s hard to really tell how the Wizards will fare this season but fans have to be encouraged with the team’s guard play and the flashing of Otto Porter. Both components are the main forces pushing the Wizards this season and so far, both performances have been encouraging.
Next – Washington will see more preseason action with its next game on Oct. 16 in Philadelphia against the 76ers.