WASHINGTON — For the first time in their current campaign, the Washington Wizards succeeded in keeping a team under 100 points, achieving this milestone in their 57th game of the season. Their new acquisition, Marcus Smart, was instrumental in this defensive performance.
During their 107-99 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night, the Wizards shut down Brooklyn’s offense, limiting them to just 12 points in the fourth quarter. This moment marked the first occurrence this season where Washington managed to contain an opponent to single-digit scoring, coinciding with Smart’s second game following his recent trade.
“It was a collective effort,” said Smart. “Everyone knows that Brooklyn plays tough and challenges you at both ends of the court.”
Historically, very few teams have struggled in keeping their opponents under 100 points. According to Sportradar, the last team to encounter a similar issue was the Utah Jazz during the 2022-23 season, and before them, the 1990-91 Denver Nuggets.
The Wizards recently brought in Smart from the Memphis Grizzlies, transferring him from a top team in the Western Conference standings to Washington, which is currently performing poorly in the league. Renowned for his defensive prowess, Smart was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 while playing for Boston. However, injuries have limited his playing time since joining the Grizzlies in June 2023.
Even while managing an injury to his right index finger, Smart has begun to contribute to the Wizards. He logged ten points in just over 21 minutes against the Nets.
“There are those who might have overlooked my abilities since I haven’t played regularly recently, but that doesn’t faze me. I’m still doing what I do best,” Smart commented.
The game saw Brooklyn briefly take the lead with Trendon Watford’s layup, putting them ahead 97-96 with just under five minutes left. However, the Nets missed their next several shots, not scoring again until a pair of free throws in the game’s final moments.
Despite committing 23 turnovers, Washington held on for the victory, with Brooklyn also struggling, committing 18 turnovers of their own.
“We endured some challenges,” Wizards coach Brian Keefe remarked. “Although our performance wasn’t flawless, scoring dipped in the second half, and our new lineup is still gelling. However, our strong defensive effort ultimately clinched the win,” Keefe added.
