The Washington Wizards slump to yet another defeat at the hands of the Toronto Raptors on Monday night. Even after coming into the second half of the game with a 19-point lead, they capitulated under pressure.
This season has not been one to remember for Russell Westbrook and his teammates by any stretch of the imagination.
However, there might have been some positives to take away from this game as Deni Avdija scored the second double-double of his short career.
His performance caught the eye of his coach and teammates alike. Russell Westbrook even commented on the 20-year-old’s performance in recent games.
In the post-game press conference, Westbrook was asked to talk about Deni Avdija’s evolution through the season. He remarked, “It’s his first year and he’s trying it out. IT has been a difficult year for everybody, especially for him. He’s gotten better with the season.”
He continued, “Now it’s the team management’s job to keep his form up. He has been doing a hell of a job for us and I hope that continues.”
Deni Avdija and team fail to stop the Raptors
The Washington Wizards took their foot off the pedal in the second half of the game. The Raptors fought back valiantly in the third and fourth quarter and ultimately snatched the victory from the jaws of defeat.
TAMPA, FLORIDA – APRIL 05: Deni Avdija #9 and Russell Westbrook #4 of the Washington Wizards react after a three-point basket by Westbrook
Avdija finished the game with 12 points for his side. He also racked up 10 rebounds to his name. Apart from him, only Russell Westbrook performed well as he went on to score yet another triple-double for the Wizards. He finished with 23 points, 11 assists, and 14 rebounds during the course of the game.
The Washington Wizards are 13th in the Eastern Conference standings. At the moment, their chances of qualification for the playoffs are considerably slim.
However, there is still plenty of time remaining in the regular season. If “Brodie” and the team manage to turn their season around from here, their story will go down as one of the historic comebacks.
Read more: ‘He’s a Beast’: Rui Hachimura Praises Russell Westbrook Despite Loss to Charlotte Hornets
